Naqvi Earns Maiden Call-Up as Zimbabwe Names 16-Man Squad for Afghanistan Test
HARARE: Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) on Friday announced a 16-member squad, led by middle-order batter Craig Ervine, for the upcoming one-off Test match against Afghanistan. The squad features the highly-anticipated inclusion of Belgium-born batting all-rounder Antum Naqvi, who is set to make his international debut.
Naqvi, who recently qualified to represent Zimbabwe, has been one of the most exciting batting prospects in the country. The 26-year-old boasts an exceptional record in domestic cricket, with an outstanding average of over 60 in both first-class and List A cricket.
His credentials include an astounding first-class average of 67.75 after accumulating 1626 runs in 19 matches, at a strike-rate of 72.65. Naqvi recently showcased his form with scores of 68 and 108 for Zimbabwe ‘A’ against the MCC in Harare, helping secure a draw. Historically, the talented batter made headlines in January last year when he became the first-ever batter from a Zimbabwean team to smash a triple-century at any level of representative cricket.
Besides Naqvi, another potential debutant in the squad is pacer Tinotenda Maposa, who has prior experience playing 14 white-ball international matches for the Chevrons.
The squad will be spearheaded by captain Craig Ervine and includes seasoned campaigners such as Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, and fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani.
In a major shake-up, the 16-man selection saw the omission of several players from the national setup, including Sean Williams, Trevor Gwandu, Newman Nyamhuri, Clive Madande, and Vincent Masekesa.
The solitary Test fixture between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan is scheduled to be played at the Harare Sports Club from October 20 to 24.
This match will be Zimbabwe’s first international outing since they successfully secured qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.