Zimbabwe cricket team
By Prosper Tsvanhu, former Zimbabwe cricketer @Prosper_Tsvanhu on X.
Cricket, in its restless quest for the new, often forgets the virtues of the old. We are told that T20 is a young man’s game, a dash for the fleet-footed and the heavy-handed.
Yet, in naming their squad for the 2026 World Cup, Zimbabwe has leaned upon the stubborn wisdom of experience.
The 15 assembled for next month’s campaign in India and Sri Lanka is a testament to continuity, a nod to old heads, and most intriguingly, an open door through which the eager feet of youth may yet stamp their name upon the world’s stage.
The Architect and the Resurrection
At the heart of this group stands the resilient Sikandar Raza, a cricketer of defiance, a man who carries the hopes of a nation on shoulders that simply refuse to slump.
Recently, those shoulders have been burdened by more than just the expectations of a sporting public.
The tragic passing of his 13-year-old brother, Muhammad Mahdi, in late 2025 has cast a somber shadow over his preparations.
Yet, at 39 years of age, Raza remains the heartbeat of this side.
There is a palpable sense that this could be his last dance under the T20 global lights.
He plays now with the urgency of a man who knows the sun is beginning to set, yet he remains the first Zimbabwean to strike a T20I century, a testament to a late-career flowering that defies logic.
Alongside Raza will be the steadying presence of those that seem to have emerged from a previous era.
Graeme Cremer, at 39, gets the nod having recently reintergrated himself to the national setup after a seven-year hiatus. It is a remarkable resurrection.
Cremer represents a brand of leg-spin that is both subtle and relentless. He does not merely bowl, he interrogates.
Alongside him is Brendan Taylor, whose presence provides a necessary ballast to a batting order prone to sudden collapses.
Admittedly and in hindsight, his recent form has been way below the levels he is capable of, but he is just one innings away from rediscovering his midas touch.
Critics will point to birth certificates, but in the dry heat of the subcontinent, the cool heads of Taylor and Cremer may prove more valuable than a fast pair of legs.
Lessons from Rawalpindi
The selectors have shown a rare, stubborn faith by retaining the same band of brothers that recently battled through that Pakistan Tri-series.
It was a tour defined by almosts and flashes of genuine brilliance.
They pushed the hosts to the final over in Rawalpindi, a match where the scoreboard showed a loss, but the cricket spoke of a team that had found its pulse.
A historic 67-run victory over Sri Lanka during that same tour served as a warning to the world: when the Chevrons click, they do not just win; they dominate.
The Squad at a Glance
The return of Blessing Muzarabani is the most vital piece of the puzzle.
Fast bowling is a grueling trade, and his recovery from a back injury gives the Chevrons the teeth they lacked in recent outings.
He and Richard Ngarava form a pair that can trouble any top order when on song.
There is a pleasing logic to this squad. In Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani, there is enough youthful dash to satisfy the modernists.
Bennett, in particular, has become the cynosure of all eyes, striking at over 145 and proving that he can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the world.
In Ryan Burl, they have a finisher who can clear the ropes with a casual violence that belies his slight frame.
The Departed and the Denied
Selection is as much about those left behind as those included.
Antum Naqvi is a name on the lips of the Zimbabwe faithful given his impressive showings on the domestic front.
While there is no official word on Naqvi’s actual position regarding selection, the speculation is that he remains sidelined by the red tape of eligibility, a frustration for a team craving his poise and obvious quality.
Wessly Madhevere, once the golden boy, finds himself absent, a stern reminder that potential is a currency that eventually devalues without returns.
Doubtless, Madhevere is a talent of sparkling gifts and has age on his side. He now walks through a period of reflection and recalibration.
Others, like Ben Curran and Alistair Frost, had a potential case to warrant consideration, but selectors deemed them surplus to requirements for this assignment, and will live to fight another day.
The Path Ahead
Zimbabwe finds itself in Group B, a collection of teams that will test their resolve.
They start against Oman on February 9, a match they must win to sustain the momentum. Then come the heavyweights: Australia and Sri Lanka.
It is a daunting path, but there is a sense of purpose in this selection.
They have not chased shadows or gambled on unproven whims.
Instead, they have looked into their own history and found players who have been through the fire.
A Legacy of Giant-Killing
Zimbabwe’s history at the T20 World Cup is a highlight reel of the unexpected.
They have been to the big dance six times, and while they have never reached the semi-finals, they have consistently reminded the elite that they are dangerous when ignored.
Who can forget the stunning victory over Australia at Newlands in 2007, a win carved by the irrepressible Brendan Taylor and the canny old fox, Elton Chigumbura?
Or that cold, magical night in Perth in 2022, where Zimbabwe humbled the mighty Pakistan by the barest of margins?
The memory of the 2024 tournament, where they were forced to watch from the sidelines, is a wound that still stings. This 2026 squad is the bandage.
Come On The Lads!
And so here we are. Zimbabwe travel not as favorites, but as fighters.
In the chaos of a T20 contest, in the flash of a moment, that is often enough.
The world would do well to look beyond the rankings, beyond the history.
For in this squad lies the enduring truth of the game: that hope is the finest cricketer of them all, and in Zimbabwe, hope springs eternal.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect 3-mob.com’s editorial policy.
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