In a shot in the arm for Zimbabwe cricket, experienced players Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams returned to the ODI and Test squads for the South Africa and Bangladesh tours after making themselves available for selection.
The Hamilton Masakadza-led Zimbabwean side will play a three-match ODI series against South Africa starting on September 30 followed by a three-match T20I series before heading to Bangladesh for three ODIs and two Test matches.
Five senior cricketers – Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza had opted out of the tri-series in July and the five-match ODI series against Pakistan because of a pay dispute with the cricket board. With timely intervention from the ICC, the financial crisis in ZC seems to be getting back to normalcy.
While Taylor, Ervine and Williams were straight away included in the side, Raza was not considered for selection after he was excluded from the central contract.
Former captain Cremer meanwhile, is nursing a knee injury and therefore was unavailable for selection. The depleted Zimbabwe side, which was battered by Pakistan and Australia at their own backyard, was bolstered further by the return of Solomon Mire and Kyle Jarvis, who have regained full fitness.
For South Africa tour
ODI Squad: Hamilton Masakadza (C), Solomon Mire, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Richard Ngarava, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Wellington Masakadza, Ryan Murray, Tendai Chatara
T20I Squad: Hamilton Masakadza (C), Solomon Mire, Neville Madziva, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Christopher Mpofu, Chamu Chibhabha, Wellington Masakadza, Tarisai Musakanda, Tendai Chatara
For Bangladesh tour
ODI Squad: Hamilton Masakadza (C), Solomon Mire, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Richard Ngarava, John Nyumbu, Wellington Masakadza, Tarisai Musakanda, Tendai Chatara, Cephas Zhuwao
Test Squad: Hamilton Masakadza (C), Brian Chari, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Regis Chakabva, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Richard Ngarava, John Nyumbu, Wellington Masakadza, Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara