PACE bowlers Richard Ngarava and Carl Mumba have been added to the Zimbabwe national cricket squad for the five One Day International series against Afghanistan which gets underway at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Left arm seamer Ngarava, a member of the Zimbabwe A side which lost 4-1 in a five-match 50 over contest against Afghanistan A was part of the country’s Under-19 at last year World Cup held in Bangladesh. The 19-year old who is yet to earn his debut in ODIs is famous for being a victim of the controversial “Mankand” dismissal when Keemo Paul ran him out at the non –striker’s end for backing too far off the crease during a Group C match. Zimbabwe lost  that contest by two runs and missed out of a place in the quarterfinals. West Indies eventually went on to win the tournament.

Mumba, a tall pace bowler earned his international debut against Sri Lanka in the two Tests played at Harare Sports Club in November last year. The 21-year old played his only ODI in the first match of the Tri-Nation Series against Sri Lanka at Harare Sports Club on 14 November during which he bowled four overs at the cost of 31 runs without taking a wicket.

The inclusion of the two bowlers has come as a shock since it was largely expected that the slots that had been left open for those who excelled in the domestic 50 over competition were going to be filled by batsmen instead.  Sean Williams, Brian Chari, Hamilton Masakadza, Tafara Mupariwa and Regis Chakabva were some of the batsmen who had put in performances good enough to be considered for selection.

Williams, according to national team coach Heath Streak failed a fitness test and might be included in the squad should he pass the assessment. The left handed batsman turned out for the Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers in the two 50 over domestic matches at Queens Sports Club. Tuskers defeated Midlands Rhinos and Manicaland Mountaineers by identical margins of six wickets.

Zimbabwe squad against Afghanistan: Graeme Cremer (captain), Peter Moor (wicketkeeper), Ryan Burl, Tarisai Musakanda, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Wellington Masakadza, Donald Tiripano, Tendai Chatara, Christopher Mpofu, Nathan Waller, Craig Ervine, Solomon Mire, Richard Ngarava, Carl Mumba.

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