Zimbabwe take on Sri Lanka in the second ODI in Colombo on Monday, January 8. The match starts at 2:30 pm IST. The African nation narrowly escaped defeat in the first ODI when rain came to their aid.
Craig Ervine will lead Zimbabwe. He is one of the most experienced players on the team. The other senior player is Sikandar Raza, who is also the captain of the T20I team. The African nation is touring Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series.
Zimbabwe are ranked 11th in the ODI rankings and are not playing their best cricket at the moment. They failed to qualify for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as they lost to Uganda in the African qualifiers.
Given the performance of their players in the first ODI, their tour will only get tougher from now on. If they want to challenge Sri Lanka in their own backyard, they must perform better with both bat and ball.
Also Read: IND vs AFG: “If they lose…” – Sourav Ganguly silences Team India critics after successful tour of South Africa
The African nation has not had much success against Sri Lana. They have won just 12 of 61 ODIs against the Islanders and are yet to win a T20I and a Test match. Eyes will be on Zimbabwe’s senior players to turn the tide of the national cricket team.
Since the first ODI was not played completely, Zimbabwe could play the same team in the second ODI as well. However, given the performance of some of their players, the think tank might want to replace them with more experienced players.
Zimbabwe plays 11 vs Sri Lanka – 2nd ODI, 2024
Craig Ervine (C)
Ervine was lost in the first ODI. He was one of the two wickets who fell in the chase. He is the second most capped player for this team with 117 ODIs. He is getting closer and closer to 4000 ODI runs for his team.
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe
Tinashe was the other batter who was dismissed for a duck. The right-handed batsman has played 11 ODIs and 12 T20Is for Zimbabwe after making his ODI debut in 2018. His last ODI was against Ireland in December 2023.
We wish you good health
Kaitano was unbeaten on 1 off 16 balls in the first ODI before the game was cancelled. It was his 10th ODI and he has a best score of 42 in 10 ODIs for Zimbabwe. He is one of the many inexperienced players in this Zimbabwe team.
milton the lion
Shumba was the other unbeaten batsman in two off three balls before the umpires called off the match. He made his ODI debut at 203 and has played eight ODIs for Zimbabwe so far. He has also played 4 Test matches and 20 T20Is for the national team.
Sikandar Raza
Raza, the T20I skipper, will be placed at five. He took 1 for 41 in his 10 overs in the previous ODI match and did not get a chance to bat. He is Zimbabwe’s most capped player, having played 140 ODIs so far. He was named the best T20I player in 2023 after having scored over 500 runs and 17 wickets.
Ryan Burl
Ryan Burl will take over at six. He has played 49 ODIs and 72 T20Is for his team. Overall, he is inching closer to 1500 ODI runs. He has also taken 72 international wickets. Burl scored 32 off 3.2 overs in the first ODI.
Clive Madandé (WK)
Madande is one of the side’s two specialist goalkeepers. He has played 12 ODIs and 17 T20Is for the national team. He made his debut in T20Is and ODIs in 2022. He caught Avishka Fernando in the previous game.
Lucas cock
Jonge will be one of the pacemakers in the playing eleven. He has picked up 40 wickets in 42 ODIs and 56 wickets in 55 ODIs. He is three short of 100 international wickets. He did not play the first ODI.
Muzarabani Blessing
Blessing is the most experienced bowler in this bowling unit. He has been playing international cricket for the last six or six years and is one of the tallest bowlers in international cricket. He makes good use of his height to take wickets.
Faraz Akram
Akram took two for 58 on his ODI debut for Zimbabwe. He was able to keep Wellington Masakadza out of the playing eleven. He should be given another game in the second ODI. The first ODI was his ODI debut for Zimbabwe.
richard ship
The left-arm pacer concludes Zimbabwe’s probable XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Ngarava took 2/39 in the first ODI and surpassed 50 ODI wickets for his country.
Also Read: IND vs AFG: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return as India’s T20I squad announced for Afghanistan series
