Uncapped Jonathan Campbell, the son of former Zimbabwe captain and chief selector Alistair Campbell, has been named in a 15-player squad to face Bangladesh in a five-match T20I series in the subcontinent next month.
Batting all-rounder Campbell is the only uncapped player in the squad which will be captained by Sikandar Raza.
A left-hander much like his father, Campbell was the second highest
run-scorer in Zimbabwe’s premier first
class cricket competition, the Logan Cup last season, averaging 61.36 for runner ups Southern Rocks.
He finished the season behind Tuskers’ Brian Chari, who averaged 49.42 matches having also played one more match than Campbell.
The 26-year-old, who also bowls leg spin, was also part of the Zimbabwe Emerging team which won a gold medal at the 13th African Games in Ghana as he continued, pushing his case for an international debut.
He will finally get his chance to follow in his dad’s footsteps during the upcoming series in Bangladesh.
Opening batter Tadiwanashe Marumani and all-rounder Faraz Akram have earned recalls to the squad after missing Zimbabwe’s last T20I series away in Sri Lanka in January 2024.
The side includes veterans such as Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, and Craig Ervine and young guns Clive Madande and Brian Bennett who impressed during in Zimbabwe’s gold medal run at the 13th African Games in Ghana in March.
The pace attack will be led by Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, who had a breakout sesson last year despite Zimbabwe’s failure to qualify for two World Cups.
The Zimbabwe side will be coached by former Zimbabwe international Stuart Matsikenyeri, who has taken up the role of interim head coach after Dave Houghton’s resignation at the end of last year.
Squad:
Sikandar Raza (c), Faraz Akram, Brina Bennett, Ryan Burl, Johnathan Campbell, Craig Ervine, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Ainsley Ndlovu, Richard Ngarava, Sean Williams
Schedule:
3 May: 1st T20I, Chattogram
5 May: 2nd T20I, Chattogram
7 May: 3rd T20I, Chattogram
10 May: 4th T20I, Dhaka
12 May: 5th T20I, Dhaka