Zimbabwe takes on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series starting with the first ODI in Colombo on Saturday, January 6. The next two ODIs will be played on January 8 and 11. Both teams play a three-match T20I series after the end of the ODI series.
Zimbabwe are ranked 11 in the ICC ODI rankings heading into this series. They lost an ODI series against Ireland heading into this series as well. Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the ODI World Cup last year and has failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2024 as well.
They will be led by Craig Ervine who will need support from his senior players to win the ODI series against Sri Lanka at home. The African nation has not had too much success against Sri Lana. They won just 12 out of 61 ODIs against the Islanders and are yet to win a T20I and a Test match.
Eyes will be on the senior players from Zimbabwe to turn the tide of the national cricket team. Not playing regularly against the top teams has stagnated the growth of cricket in the country. Sikandar Raza, the T20I skipper is the most decorated cricketer in the team at the moment and eyes will be on him as to how he performs in this series.
Zimbabwe met Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup qualifiers earlier this year. They lost 2-1 to Sri Lanka the last time they toured Sri Laka in 2021-22 Zimbabwe won the the previous ODI series between the two sides in the 2017-28 season 3-2 which was also played in Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka – 1st ODI, 2024
Craig Ervine (C)
Ervine will lead the team and open the batting for Zimbabwe. He is the second most capped player in this side with 116 ODIs. He is inching closer to 4000 ODI runs for his side.
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe
Kamunhukamwe will open the batting along with Ervine. The right-hand batter has played 10 ODIs and 12 T20Is for Zimbabwe having made his ODI debut back in 2018. His last ODI was against Ireland in December 2023.
Milton Shumba
Shubman will bat at three. He made his ODI debut back in 203 and has played seven ODIs for Zimbabwe so far. He has also played 4 Test matches and 20 T20Is for the national side.
Sikandar Raza
Raza will bat at four. He is the most capped player for Zimbabwe having played 139 ODIs so far. He was named yeh best T20I player in 2023 having scored over 500 runs along with 17 wickets.
Ryan Burl
Takudzwanashe Kaitano
Kaitano will slot in at six. He is a batting all-rounder and has played one Test match and nine ODIs for Zimbabwe. He is still very inexperienced in international cricket.
Clive Madande (WK)
Madande is one of the two specialist wicketkeepers in the side. He has played 12 ODIs and 17 T20Is for the national side. He made his T20I and ODI debut back in 2022.
Luke Jongwe
Jonge will be one of the pacers in the playing XI. He has picked up 40 wickets in 42 ODIs and 56 wickets in 55 ODIs. He is three shy of 100 international wickets.
Blessing Muzarabani
Blessing is the most experienced bowler of this bowling unit. He has been playing international cricket for the last six to six years and is one of the tallest bowlers in international cricket. He makes good use of his height to take wickets.
Wellington Masakadza
Masakadza will be a specialist spinner in the XI. He is a left-arm spinner and can make good use of the conditions in Colombo. He has picked up 31 wickets in 37 ODIs.
Richard Ngarava
The left-arm pacer concludes the likely Zimbabwe XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Ngarava is two short of 50 ODI wickets and partners Musarabani well for Zimbabwe.
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