Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has named a 13-man Zimbabwe ‘A’ squad to take on the visiting Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in a three-day match scheduled for 10-12 October at Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare.

The side features several players who have been part of Zimbabwe’s recent international fixtures, among them Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tinotenda Maposa, Vincent Masekesa and Tafadzwa Tsiga.

Antum Naqvi, Takudzwa Chataira and Anesu Kamuriwo are the only members of the squad yet to make their full international debuts.

The fixture offers a valuable opportunity for Zimbabwe’s next generation of cricketers to test themselves against quality opposition.

MCC’s visit marks a historic return to Zimbabwe – the English club’s first since their 1964/65 tour –reaffirming cricket’s enduring ties between the two nations.

The touring team began their seven-match schedule earlier this week with two T20s and a 50-over match against provincial side Rhinos at Kwekwe Sports Club.

Following the three-day contest in Harare, MCC will conclude their tour with three T20s against the Zimbabwe Academy at Takashinga Cricket Club next week.

MCC has brought a competitive 13-man squad captained by Glamorgan batter Will Smale, underlining the high-performance nature of the tour.

Nine players in the visiting team boast first-class and/or List A experience.

Smale was a standout performer in Glamorgan’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign this summer, notably scoring a century against Surrey at the Kia Oval.

He is joined by Worcestershire’s Ben Allison – a member of this year’s One-Day Cup-winning side – and Essex wicketkeeper Simon Fernandes.

The squad also includes Kent leg-spinner Mo Rizvi, Scotland international Jasper Davidson and Joseph Davies, who earned his place through an impressive showing in the relaunched MCC Young Cricketers programme.

ZIMBABWE ‘A’ SQUAD FOR THREE-DAY MATCH VS MCC

Takudzwa Chataira, Tanaka Chivanga, Innocent Kaia, Roy Kaia, Anesu Kamuriwo, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tanunurwa Makoni, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Vincent Masekesa, Antum Naqvi, Tafadzwa Tsiga

MCC SQUAD FOR ZIMBABWE TOUR

Will Smale (Captain), Sam Athurton, Ben Allison, Daniel da Costa, Jasper Davidson, Joseph Davies, Simon Fernandes, Alistair Frost, Michael Frost, Darren Ironside, Billy Mead, Mo Rizvi, Matt Wareing ZimCricket

Harare – Zimbabwe clinched the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier title in thrilling fashion on Saturday, defeating Namibia by seven wickets with just four balls to spare at Harare Sports Club. The victory capped off a flawless campaign for the hosts, who won all five of their matches in the eight-team tournament.

Tadiwanashe Marumani was the star of the show, anchoring Zimbabwe’s chase with a superb unbeaten 74 off 52 balls. His calm under pressure and timely strokeplay guided Zimbabwe to 171 for 3 in 19.2 overs, successfully overhauling Namibia’s competitive total of 167 for 6.

Both teams had already secured qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, by virtue of reaching the final. But the title clash was anything but ceremonial.

After winning the toss, Zimbabwe opted to bowl first and made early inroads. Richard Ngarava struck twice in the opening overs, removing Jan Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton to leave Namibia reeling at 19 for 2. Ryan Burl added to the pressure by trapping Malan Kruger lbw for 13, reducing Namibia to 55 for 3.

Louren Steenkamp (40 off 27) and captain Gerhard Erasmus (38 off 32) steadied the innings with a crucial partnership, but Ngarava returned to claim his third wicket and finish with impressive figures of 3 for 26. JJ Smit contributed 23 before falling to Brad Evans in the final over, while Ruben Trumpelmann’s late cameo (18* off a handful of deliveries) pushed Namibia to a respectable 167.

Wellington Masakadza was the most economical of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, conceding just 22 runs in his four overs.

In response, Zimbabwe started steadily with Brian Bennett and Marumani. Bennett fell for 15 to Ben Shikongo, but Dion Myers joined Marumani to build a match-defining 88-run stand. Myers scored a fluent 44 before being bowled by Bernard Scholtz, who then dismissed Sikandar Raza the very next ball to spark a brief Namibian resurgence.

With 29 needed from the final three overs, Ryan Burl stepped up with a composed 26* and struck crucial boundaries to ease the pressure. The final over, bowled by Trumpelmann, unraveled for Namibia—beginning with a wide and followed by two costly no-balls. Burl capitalized, hitting both for fours and sealing the win in dramatic fashion.

Marumani’s unbeaten 74 was the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s chase, showcasing maturity and flair. Scholtz was Namibia’s standout bowler, finishing with 2 for 21.

BULAWAYO – Zimbabwe wrapped up the three-match T20I series against Namibia in emphatic fashion on Tuesday, securing a five-wicket victory at Queens Sports Club with 11 balls to spare. Powered by aggressive batting from Tadiwanashe Marumani and Brian Bennett, the hosts chased down Namibia’s competitive total of 169 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Zimbabwe faced a spirited Namibian batting effort. Jan Frylinck gave the visitors a lively start, racing to 22 off 11 balls before falling to Richard Ngarava. The innings gained momentum through a solid second-wicket stand between Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (47 off 30) and Malan Kruger (45 off 44), which pushed Namibia to 98 by the 12th over.

Sikandar Raza broke the partnership, and Tinotenda Maposa followed up with the dismissal of Loftie-Eaton, caught by Brad Evans. Captain Gerhard Erasmus added late impetus with a brisk 37 off 25, but Zimbabwe’s bowlers tightened the screws in the death overs. Ngarava and Evans both finished with identical figures of 2/25, restricting Namibia to 169/6.

Zimbabwe’s reply was anchored by a blistering opening stand. Brian Bennett launched the innings with a flurry of boundaries, racing to 40 off just 20 balls before being caught behind off Ruben Trumpelmann. Marumani then took charge, reaching his half-century from 36 deliveries and combining effectively with Brendan Taylor (29) to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Despite a brief middle-order wobble—losing Marumani, Raza (3), and Taylor in quick succession—Ryan Burl and Tony Munyonga steadied the chase with a 24-run partnership. Munyonga fell for 10, but Burl’s composed 24* off 13 balls and a six from Tashinga Musekiwa off his very first delivery sealed the win in style.

Match Summary

Namibia: 169/6 in 20 overs

• Loftie-Eaton 47, Kruger 45, Erasmus 37
• Ngarava 2/25, Evans 2/25, Maposa 1/28

Zimbabwe: 170/5 in 18.1 overs

• Marumani 50, Bennett 40, Taylor 29
• Smit 2/38, Scholtz 1/33, Trumpelmann 1/37

Result: Zimbabwe won by 5 wickets