Zimbabwe named Brian Bennett captain of a 17-player squad for two Tests against Afghanistan in Sharjah, the ICC reported on 4 November. Richard Ngarava is recovering from a back injury.
Ngarava and Chivanga miss the Test squad
The ICC's announcement places Bennett in charge of the red-ball side while Ngarava is unavailable. Bennett had been serving as Test vice-captain under Ngarava, so the assignment changes the leader without bringing in a captain from outside the existing leadership group. The ICC describes the selection as covering the Afghanistan series in the United Arab Emirates.
The ICC's 4 November report also rules out fast bowler Tanaka Chivanga through injury. Blessing Muzarabani will lead the pace attack, with Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Kundai Matigimu and uncapped Ernest Masuku listed among the seam options. Chivanga's absence therefore affects the bowling group as well as Ngarava's absence affecting the captaincy.
Graeme Cremer returns to the Test squad, while Matigimu and Vincent Masekesa have earned recalls. Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine remained in the UAE after the ODI tri-series and are included again. The ICC also names Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Wessly Madhevere among the batting options.
Zimbabwe stand-in captain Brian Bennett told Gulf Today: “We have moved on and are looking for a fresh beginning.” His comment followed Zimbabwe's losses to Afghanistan in the shorter format and concerned the change of focus for the Test series.
Bennett moves up from the deputy role
SportsRivo compared the ICC's 4 November squad report with its 10 July account of Zimbabwe's captaincy structure. The earlier account named Ngarava Test captain and Bennett Test vice-captain. Bennett's Sharjah assignment therefore moves the established deputy into the captain's place during Ngarava's recovery. The new role is stated for the Afghanistan series, while the July account records the underlying national-team appointments.
The teams have just met in T20 cricket. SportsRivo's 3 November report records Afghanistan's 3–0 T20I sweep of Zimbabwe in Sharjah, completed on 1 November. The Tests bring the same opponents into a different format, with Zimbabwe's captaincy and squad set out in the later ICC announcement.
What changes for Zimbabwe
- Bennett takes charge of the Test side while regular captain Ngarava recovers from his back injury, according to the ICC.
- Chivanga is also out injured; Muzarabani leads the named pace attack, with uncapped Masuku among the available seamers.
- Cremer returns as a leg-spinner, while Matigimu and Masekesa rejoin the Test squad for Afghanistan.
Second Test remains on the schedule
The ICC's 4 November announcement schedules the second Test from 13 November at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Bennett was named captain for the series, so Zimbabwe's leadership arrangement covers that fixture as well as the opening match.
Source: International Cricket Council