NEW: Depleted Chevrons face West Indies test

Online Reporter

Zimbabwe will be missing the services of five key players when they take part in the opener of their two-match Test series against West Indies in Bulawayo this weekend.

Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Sean Williams, Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani are all set to miss out on the Chevrons’ first white-ball match in over one-and-a-half years.

Test match captain Sean Williams has been ruled out of the series due to a fractured finger, while Burl and Raza are committed to their franchises in Bangladesh and Pakistan, respectively.

Muzarabani and Chatara have also been ruled out through injury.

In the absence of Williams, Craig Ervine will lead the team when Zimbabwe and West Indies begin the first Test at Queens Sports Club on Saturday.

The absence of the senior players has, however, opened up opportunities for a few fringe players.

The quartet of wicketkeeper-batters Tafadzwa Tsiga, Joylord Gumbie, Kudzai Maunze and Tanunurwa Makoni have been called up.

This comes after impressive runs in the ongoing Logan Cup.

Innocent Kaia, Bradley Evans and Tanaka Chivanga have already featured for the Chevrons in the white-ball format and look set for their Test debuts.

Gary Ballance, who made his debut for Zimbabwe during the Ireland tour, is also set to make his debut in the Test format.

Donald Tiripano and Chamunorwa Chibhabha have been recalled to add some experience to the side, while Victor Nyauchi, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Brandon Mavuta and Milton Shumba will be looking to make an impression in the longest version of the game.

ZIMBABWE SQUAD

Ballance Gary, Chibhabha Chamunorwa, Chivanga Tanaka, Ervine Craig (captain), Evans Bradley, Gumbie Joylord, Kaia Innocent, Makoni Tanunurwa, Masakadza Wellington, Maunze Kudzai, Mavuta Brandon, Ngarava Richard, Nyauchi Victor, Shumba Milton, Tiripano Donald, Tsiga Tafadzwa