Belgium Born Antum Naqvi Receives Maiden Call-up as Zimbabwe Announce Young Squad for India T20Is

Zimbabwe have named Belgian-born Antum Naqvi in a young squad that will take on India in a 5-match T20I series, starting July 6 in Harare. The 25-year-old batter’s inclusion is subject to the confirmation of his citizenship status.

Naqvi was born to Pakistani parents in Brussels, Belgium, before moving to Australia, but he was considered for selection after he declared his desire to represent Zimbabwe in international cricket and applied for naturalisation.

Naqvi playing for the Rhinos in the domestic front and boasts a strike rate of 146.80 in the T20s while his averages of 72.00 in first-class cricket and 73.42 in List A cricket. Earlier in January, he notched up a triple century in first-class cricket, becoming the first batter ever to score 300 for any Zimbabwean team.

Zimbabwe have picked a young squad with an average age of 27 and a total of 558 T20I appearances. Captain Sikandar Raza, at 38 and with 86 matches under his belt, is the team’s most experienced player, followed by 29-year-old Luke Jongwe who has featured in 63 games. The other seasoned campaigners in the side are pace bowlers Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani, aged 26 and 27 and with 52 and 51 T20I appearances respectively.

Making their comeback for Zimbabwe are Tendai Chatara, Wessly Madhevere, Brandon Mavuta, Dion Myers, Innocent Kaia and Milton Shumba. Clive Madande, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Faraz Akram have been retained, but five of the players who were part of the team’s last T20I series, away to Bangladesh in April, have missed out.

The likes of Craig Ervine and Sean Williams were not considered for selection while Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie and Ainsley Ndlovu failed to make the cut.

Zimbabwe squad for India T20Is:

Raza Sikandar (captain), Akram Faraz, Bennett Brian, Campbell Johnathan, Chatara Tendai, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Wellington, Mavuta Brandon, Muzarabani Blessing, Myers Dion, Naqvi Antum, Ngarava Richard, Shumba Milton.

India tour of Zimbabwe fixtures:

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