Zimbabwe’s pace spearhead Blessing Muzarabani has been ruled out of the forthcoming T20I tri-series in Pakistan owing to a back injury, delivering a setback for the team ahead of crucial matches.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Board (ZC) confirmed that Muzarabani’s absence is the sole alteration to the squad that recently hosted Afghanistan. To compensate, Newman Nyamhuri, a promising young fast bowler, has been drafted into the squad. Nyamhuri’s inclusion is expected to inject fresh energy into Zimbabwe’s pace attack, which will be marshalled by all-rounder Sikandar Raza, who also leads the side as captain.
The squad features a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talent. Veterans such as Brendan Taylor, Ryan Burl, and Richard Ngarava bring stability and tactical acumen, while younger players like Dion Myers, Tony Munyonga, and Nyamhuri promise pace, flair, and dynamism. This balance will be pivotal as Zimbabwe prepare to face top-tier regional teams in challenging conditions.
The tri-series serves as part of Zimbabwe’s build-up to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, providing an opportunity to fine-tune strategies, test combinations, and acclimatise to subcontinental pitches. Every fixture carries significant weight, with the top two teams advancing to the final on 29 November.
Zimbabwe’s schedule in Pakistan is as follows:
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 2025 | Pakistan | Rawalpindi |
| 19 Nov 2025 | Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi |
| 23 Nov 2025 | Pakistan | Lahore |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Sri Lanka | Lahore |
| 29 Nov 2025 | Final | Lahore |
The squad for the tri-series is: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Brendan Taylor.
Zimbabwe will open their campaign against hosts Pakistan in Rawalpindi on 17 November, before facing Sri Lanka two days later. The action then moves to Lahore for the final round-robin fixtures, culminating in the title-decider on 29 November.
With Muzarabani sidelined, the onus falls on Raza and his senior players to lead the squad effectively. Nyamhuri’s performance will be closely watched, as his impact with the new ball could prove decisive in Zimbabwe’s bid to reach the final and gain crucial momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup.