Zimbabwe has called up opening batter Tadiwanashe Marumani for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The 20-year-old youngster last featured for his national team in September 2021 in a T20I against Scotland.
The move to shore up the top order comes on the back of the African nation failing to put up a substantial opening partnership in any of the three ODIs against the Asian outfit recently. Afghanistan ended up trouncing the African nation 3-0.
Zimbabwe Recalls Opener Tadiwanashe Marumani For 3 T20Is Against Afghanistan
Opening batter Tadiwanashe Marumani has been recalled to Zimbabwe’s 15-man squad for the three-match home T20I series against Afghanistan, beginning 11 June.
Tadiwanashe Marumani last played in Scotland in September 2021. He was not a part of Zimbabwe’s squad for the series against Namibia earlier this year and did not feature in the Afghanistan ODIs as well. The 20-year-old has played 11 T20Is to date and scored 118 runs and is the only new face on the list.
Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Tanaka Chivanga, who were a part of the ODI squad that recently faced Afghanistan, haven’t been retained. After the T20I series, Zimbabwe will head into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier B 2022, which is set to be hosted by them in July.
Squad: Ervine Craig (captain), Burl Ryan, Chakabva Regis, Chatara Tendai, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Muzarabani Blessing, Myers Dion, Ndlovu Ainsley, Raza Sikandar, Shumba Milton, Tiripano Donald
Schedule
1st T20I: 11 June, Harare Sports Club, Harare
2nd T20I: 12 June, Harare Sports Club, Harare
3rd T20I: 14 June, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Zimbabwe Has Won Only 1 T20I In 12 Meetings With Afghanistan
Both teams have faced each other on 12 occasions in this format. Afghanistan has had a one-sided dominance with 11 wins and one loss. Their sole defeat was during the 2019 tri-series involving hosts Bangladesh.
In the 1st ODI, Afghanistan posted 276-5 batting first with Rahmat Shah’s 94 and Hashmatullah Shahidi’s 88. Later, they restricted Zimbabwe to 216 all out to win the match by 60 runs. In the 2nd ODI, Zimbabwe batted first and was all out for 228, with Innocent Kaia (63) and Ryan Burl(51) hitting fifties.
Later in the 2nd innings, Ibrahim Zadran slammed unbeaten 120 runs while Rahmat Shah slammed 88 to grab victory for Afghanistan by 8 wickets. In the 3rd ODI, Zimbabwe was all out for just 135 in the 1st innings. Later, Afghanistan managed to chase the target by 4 wickets.