Zimbabwe’s seasoned batter Sean Williams has carved out a unique place in cricket history, becoming the longest-serving player in T20 International cricket. His return to the format in the first T20I against Sri Lanka marked a monumental milestone—surpassing Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan to claim the record for the longest T20I career ever.

Williams, who debuted in the format back in 2006 alongside Shakib in a match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, has now played T20I cricket for an astonishing 18 years and 279 days. Shakib, who retired after the 2024 T20 World Cup, held the previous record with 17 years and 166 days.

This comeback was especially significant for Williams, who had been absent from the shortest format for over a year. His return not only extended his legacy but also highlighted his enduring commitment to Zimbabwean cricket.

Interestingly, Brendan Taylor—another Zimbabwean veteran who debuted in the same 2006 match—is also poised to join Williams on the longevity list. Although named in the squad for the Sri Lanka series, Taylor had to withdraw due to injury.

The opening match of the series saw Zimbabwe post a competitive total of 176, but Sri Lanka chased it down to take the win. After the match, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza reflected on the narrow defeat and the lessons for his team:

“I thought we were in the game for 19 overs, but it was one over that went for 20 odd that turned the game,” Raza said.

“These are the experiences the young boys need to have, but hopefully he nails his yorkers on another day. We knew the second innings could be tough to bat, but Kamindu played brilliantly.”

While the result didn’t favor Zimbabwe, the match was a celebration of endurance and legacy—especially for Sean Williams, whose name now stands alone atop the T20I timeline.

Zimbabwe’s cricketing icon Sikandar Raza has reached a historic milestone, rising to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s ODI All-Rounder Rankings after a stellar performance in the recent series against Sri Lanka in Harare.

Despite Zimbabwe falling short in the two-match series, Raza’s individual brilliance stood out. He notched up two half-centuries and delivered a disciplined bowling spell in the first ODI, finishing with figures of 1/48 from his full quota of 10 overs.

His efforts earned him a rating of 302, surpassing Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi (292) and Azmatullah Omarzai (296), and securing the number one spot in the world. Raza also climbed nine places in the ODI Batting Rankings, now sitting at number 22.

Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Givemore Makoni celebrated the achievement, calling it a proud moment for the nation:

“We are immensely proud of Sikandar Raza for rising to the very top of the ICC ODI All-Rounder Rankings,” he said.

“His consistency, resilience and match-winning qualities continue to inspire not only his teammates but the whole of Zimbabwe.”

Makoni also praised veteran Sean Williams, who moved up seven spots to number 16 in the all-rounder rankings and three places to number 47 in batting:

“Sean Williams has also shown once again why he is such a vital part of our team, with his consistent contributions both with bat and ball,” Makoni added.

“We extend our appreciation to him and indeed the entire squad for their fighting spirit and encouraging displays against Sri Lanka.”

On the bowling charts, Richard Ngarava remains Zimbabwe’s top-ranked bowler, now at number 20, while Raza follows at number 38.

As a team, Zimbabwe currently holds the 11th position in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings. Makoni emphasized that the latest rankings reflect a promising direction for Zimbabwean cricket:

“These rankings movements show that our players are competing hard at the highest level,” he said.

“While results did not go our way against Sri Lanka, the individual performances point to a promising future as we continue building towards greater success.”

Raza’s rise is not just a personal triumph—it’s a beacon of hope for Zimbabwe cricket, signaling that the nation’s stars are ready to shine on the global stage.

Zimbabwe Cricket has named a strong 14-player squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2025, to be staged in Namibia from 31 August to 6 September.

Veteran batter Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano will lead the side, which features a mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging talents as Zimbabwe seek to secure a place at next year’s Global Qualifier in Nepal – the final step towards the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Zimbabwe are drawn in Group A alongside hosts Namibia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, while Group B consists of Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda.

The Lady Chevrons will kick off their campaign against Namibia on the afternoon of 31 August at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.

They will then face Sierra Leone the following morning at the same venue, before wrapping up their group fixtures with a clash against Nigeria on 3 September at the HP Oval in the Namibian capital.

The top two sides from each group will qualify for the semi-finals scheduled for 4 September, with the two finalists not only battling for the trophy on 6 September but also booking their tickets to the Global Qualifier in Nepal early next year.

Zimbabwe will look to draw inspiration from their impressive run in the last edition of the Africa Qualifier, held in Uganda in 2023, where they went unbeaten and defeated Uganda in the final to advance.

Head Coach Walter Chawaguta said the team was focused and determined to build on that success.

“This tournament is of huge significance because it is our gateway to the Global Qualifier, which in turn gives us a chance to play at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026,” he said.

“Every game counts and we know what is at stake.”

He added that preparations had gone well, with the players responding positively in training.

“We have worked hard on all aspects of our game – from batting depth and bowling variations to fielding sharpness,” he said.

“The squad has a good balance of experience and youth, and we believe we are in a strong position to compete.”

Chawaguta, however, warned against complacency.

“It’s important for us to stay humble and grounded,” he said.

“We cannot afford to underestimate any opposition because in tournament cricket, one bad day can undo all your hard work.

“The key will be to remain consistent and play every match with the same intensity.”

The Zimbabwe squad brings together experienced players such as Josephine Nkomo, Modester Mupachikwa, Loreen Tshuma, Nomvelo Sibanda and Christabel Chatonzwa, alongside rising stars Kelis Ndhlovu, Beloved Biza, Kudzai Chigora, Adel Zimunu and Lindokuhle Mabhero.

Chiedza Dhururu, Nyasha Gwanzura and Francisca Chipare complete the 14-player line-up.

ZIMBABWE WOMEN’S SQUAD FOR ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP AFRICA QUALIFIER 2025:

Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (Captain), Beloved Biza, Christabel Chatonzwa, Kudzai Chigora, Francisca Chipare, Chiedza Dhururu, Nyasha Gwanzura, Lindokuhle Mabhero, Modester Mupachikwa, Kelis Ndhlovu, Josephine Nkomo, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loreen Tshuma, Adel Zimunu

Source: Zimbabwe Cricket