Zimbabwe have faced a massive injury setback during their T20 World Cup 2026 as their experienced wicket-keeper batter, Brendan Taylor, has been ruled out of the competition with a hamstring injury. The event technical committee of the ICC has approved the left-handed opening batter, Ben Curran, as a replacement for Taylor.

Brendan Taylor picked up the injury during their previous clash against Ireland when he set up for a single and looked to be struggling to run and limped in his way through, which saw their captain, Sikandar Raza, come into the crease early. Raza informed that it didn’t look good at the first stage, and the result is now known to everybody.

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“Taylor has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after sustaining a right hamstring injury during Zimbabwe’s opening match against Oman in Colombo on 9 February. Following a medical assessment, it was determined that he will not recover in time to take any further part in the competition.” Zimbabwe expressed in a statement.

Zimbabwe T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Update: Ben Curran Joins Camp Ahead of Crucial Clash

Zimbabwe has strengthened its T20 World Cup 2026 squad by bringing in Ben Curran ahead of their upcoming clash. The left-handed batter is expected to join the camp soon and could feature in the Zimbabwe playing XI as the team looks to maintain its strong momentum in the tournament.

Ben Curran Career Statistics and International Record

When assessing Ben Curran’s career statistics, the numbers highlight his growing value to the Zimbabwe cricket team.

In Tests, Curran has scored 495 runs in eight matches at an average of 33, including one century and one half-century, with a best score of 121.

In ODIs, he has impressed with 340 runs in eight innings at an average of 48.54 and a strike rate of 74.88, registering one century and two fifties. His ability to anchor the innings makes him a strong option in the Zimbabwe top-order batting lineup.

Although he is yet to make his T20I debut, Curran’s T20 record in domestic cricket is notable. Across 40 T20 matches, he has scored 872 runs at a strike rate of 126.01, including seven fifties. His aggressive yet controlled approach could provide the top-order reinforcement Zimbabwe needs in the ongoing ICC tournament.

Zimbabwe’s Strong T20 World Cup Campaign So Far

Zimbabwe has enjoyed an impressive start to its ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. They began with a commanding win over Oman and followed it up with a historic victory against Australia — marking their second successive win in T20 World Cup history against a major side.

These back-to-back victories have strengthened Zimbabwe’s position in the T20 World Cup 2026 points table, showcasing the team’s resurgence on the global stage.

Will Ben Curran Feature in Zimbabwe’s Probable XI?

With Curran joining the squad, team management may consider a batting order reshuffle to maintain balance and stability. His presence offers flexibility in the top order and adds depth to Zimbabwe’s lineup.

As Zimbabwe prepares for its next fixture, all eyes will be on the official team sheet to see whether Curran slots directly into the Zimbabwe probable XI.

FAQs

• What are Ben Curran’s international stats?
  He has scored 495 Test runs and 340 ODI runs, along with 872 runs in domestic T20s.

• Has Ben Curran played T20Is for Zimbabwe?
  No, he is yet to make his T20I debut.

• Will Ben Curran play in Zimbabwe’s next match?
  He is expected to join the camp and could feature in the playing XI.

• How has Zimbabwe performed in the T20 World Cup 2026 so far?
  They have secured back-to-back wins over Oman and Australia.

Fielding standards have been set at the highest level during the ongoing 2026 edition of the U-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia. During the Super Six encounter of the event between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at the Harare Sports Club, the same picture took place when a rebound catch dropped the jaw of the spectators, which later proved vital.

The left-arm Zimbabwepacer, Tatenda Chimugoro, bowled a juicy half-volley to Md Abudllah, who was on 12 runs in nine balls at that point in time. The southpaw used his feet and nailed the pacer straight back down the ground, where the bowler tried to grab the catch. But the speed of the ball was such that it hit the bowler and popped up high in the air.

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Behind the bowling crease, the fielder, Shelton Mazvitorera, was standing at the mid-on region, who rushed to the straight line and grabbed a fine air-borne catch to send the batter back into the pavilion. It was a great take from the fielder, who was well aware of the entire situation.

Shelton Mazvitorera grabs stunning catch during U19 World Cup 2026

Bangladesh posted 253 for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Both their openers and the top order struggled to get going before the number three batter, Azizul Hakim Tamim, contributed a solid knock of 59 runs in 87 balls with the help of six boundaries at a strike rate of just under 70.

Watch the video here: 

😮😮#U19WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/6k6eD9bv5e

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) January 31, 2026

They are middle order better, Mohammed Rezaan Hussain, got 47 runs in 68 balls with the help of four boundaries and one six before Al Fahad contributed 23 swashbuckling runs at an aggressive strike rate of nearly 180, thanks to his couple of boundaries and one six to shoulder the side over the 250-run mark.

Zimbabwe did not get a great start in the Chase as they lost by three wickets in nine overs for just 26 runs on the board as Iqbal Hussain Iman picked up two wickets in his first four overs.

Brief Scores: ZIMU19 26/3 (Leeroy Chiwaula 10*, Iqbal Emon 2/11) beat BANU19 253/9 (Azizul Tamim 59, Michael Blignaut 2/41).

The former captain of the Zimbabwe side, Graeme Cremer, has been named in the 15-member squad of the team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. He returned to international cricket in October after a seven-year hiatus as the 39-year-old leg spinner had made his comeback during the recent tri-series against Sri Lanka in Pakistan, where he picked up 2/44 from seven overs across two games.

Blessing Muzarabani, who missed the Zimbabwe tri-series with a back injury, has also returned to the squad, with the left-arm seamer, Newman Nyamhuri, being the only one from that to miss out. Clive Madande, who came in for the replacement of Sean Williams for the Africa region qualifier, also retained his place.  

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Madande was the leading run-getter individually in the scorecard in Zimbabwe’s domestic tournament with 152 runs in four innings at an average of 76 and a strike rate of 138.18. He can be the best option for Zimbabwe in that position.

Zimbabwe name T20 World Cup 2026 squad

Sikandar Raza will lead the squad that includes the Test and ODI captain, Richard Ngarava, and the experienced wicket-keeper batter, Brendan Taylor, among others. Like the leg spinner of the Zimbabwe side, Creamer- Taylor also made a comeback earlier this year. Since then, he has played a decent number of games.

Taylor has played 13 T20Is and scored 251 runs at an average of 22.81 and a strike rate of 144.25. However, 123 of those came in one innings against Botswana. If one excludes that knock, his average and strike rate drop to 12.80 and 106.66, respectively.

Muzarabani and Ngarava lead the seam attack, while in the spin department, Wellington Masakadza is the other experienced name after Cremer. They are placed in Group B with Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Oman. They started the campaign against Sri Lanka on February 09.

Zimbabwe squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Brad Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor

The death of Muhammad Mahdi, the 13-year-old younger brother of Zimbabwe's T20 skipper and cricketing sensation Sikandar Raza, has been a disheartening development for the whole cricket fraternity in Zimbabwe and beyond. It was confirmed this week that the boy has passed away, which is indeed a very tragic development that has affected even the non-cricketing world.

Zimbabwe Cricket pays tribute as captain reacts with heartfelt gesture

Zimbabwe Cricket's official response to the news was immediate. The organization released a condolence statement via its social media channels. The board, in turn, expressed its most sincere condolences to Raza and his family, referring to the loss as extremely sorrowful.

“Muhammad Mahdi passed away on 29 December 2025 in Harare,” the statement read. “He was born with haemophilia but unfortunately, he could not survive the recent and serious health complications that he went through. He was buried on 30 December at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare. The ZC Board, Management, Players and Staff are all together in support of Sikandar Raza and his family during this incredibly hard time. May Allah ease their pain and give them strength, and may Muhammad Mahdi’s soul find peace forever.”

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Raza himself was very quiet but still very emotional in acknowledging all the support that has been coming through. He replied to a post by Zimbabwe Cricket with a broken heart emoji which was indeed a very powerful gesture showing the extent of his sorrow.

💔 https://t.co/zNCVlBBKVB

— Sikandar Raza (@SRazaB24) December 31, 2025

Zimbabwe's new captain is in a tough spot where he has to reconcile with his overwhelming loss

The personal misfortune coincides with a very tough time in Raza's professional life. The experienced player was recently engaged with the Sharjah Warriorz in the ILT20 2025, where he had a participation in 10 games, netting 171 runs and taking 10 wickets. His performances once more proved that he is among the most reliable all-rounders in T20 cricket.

However, they will turn their focus on Raza's part in ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which is taking place in February, despite the loss that can't be credited to anything else. Being the backbone of Zimbabwe's squad, his guidance will be extremely important at a global level.

Cricket will have to wait, but the global cricket community's thoughts and prayers would be with Sikandar Raza and his family during this incredibly sorrowful period.

Drug addiction caused the end of a legend's international career. On Tuesday (November 4), the Zimbabwe cricket governing body announced that their former captain, Sean Williams' international career is over after he entered a rehabilitation program to treat drug addiction. 

The Zimbabwe Cricket Association, through a long statement, confirms the drug addiction issue of the cricketer and the end of a journey. The cricket governing body said that because of disciplinary issues and repeated unavailability of Williams, Zimbabwe cricket has suffered in the past. Thus, they have decided not to allow him any of their matches in the future. 

"After careful consideration, ZC has concluded that Williams will no longer be considered for national selection. ZC expects all contracted players to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and compliance with team protocols and anti-doping regulations," the cricket association stated in a press release. 

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"A review of Williams' record indicates a history of disciplinary issues and repeated unavailability, which has impacted team preparations and performance. While ZC commends him for seeking rehabilitation, withdrawal from team commitments under circumstances involving potential testing raises serious concerns regarding professional and ethical standards," the statement continued. 

The media release concluded by acknowledging the experienced all-rounder's contribution toZimbabwe cricket. He was one of the instrumental figures for Zimbabwe cricket for years. 

Zimbabwe Cricket assosiation thanked Sean Williams for his service

"Notwithstanding this, ZC sincerely acknowledges and appreciates his immense contribution to Zimbabwean cricket over the past two decades. Williams has played a pivotal role in some of the most significant moments in our recent history, leaving a lasting legacy both on and off the field," the statement read. 

Williams, 39, has scored almost 9,000 runs and taken more than 150 wickets across all three formats for Zimbabwe. 

The T20I captain and the star all-rounder of the Zimbabwe side, Sikandar Raza, has taken the top spot in the ICC Men’s ODI all-rounder rankings, as he moved to the top of the table with two successive golden performances during the two games against Sri Lanka in Harare. 

Raza raised his bat on both occasions to celebrate the half-centuries and claimed a match figure of 1/48 during the opening ODI, despite their defeats in both clashes. The effort has helped him to move past the Afghanistan pair of Mohammed Nabi (292 points) and Azmatullah Omarzai (296 points) to the rank with 302 points.

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In the batting department, Sri Lanka’s opening batter, Pathum Nissanka, has threatened to breach the top 10 to find themselves at the 13th spot with two classic knocks of 122 and 76 in the two games. Mohammed Nabi, from the top of the all-rounders’ list, has dropped down to the third position.  

Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza rises to top spot in ODI all-rounder rankings

The only Indian player in the list of ODI all-rounders is Ravindra Jadeja, who has found his feet at the ninth position with 220 points. The lack of ODIs for India’s schedule, as their last 50-over clash was the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand, could be a reason behind it.

Nabi, however, has pressed himself to the second position in the all-rounder’s list for the T20Is, just behind India’s Hardik Pandya at the top. He claimed four wickets in three games in Sharjah against the UAE and Pakistan in the ongoing tri-series.

The Afghan batter, Ibrahim Zadran, is a noteworthy mover in the T20I batting rankings after his two half-centuries, which have raised him to he 20th position as Sufiyan Muqeem has risen 11 spots to 22 in the bowling ranking of the format.

ICC ODI all-rounder’s rankings as of September 03, 2025:

Graeme Cremer, the ex-Zimbabwe captain and leggie, is back in the domestic cricket circuit in his country and is also available for international selection, seven years after his last game for Zimbabwe. The 38-year-old who captained Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2018 is now up for consideration for a place at the T20 World Cup Africa Regional Qualifier at home in September.

Cremer last represented Zimbabwe in March 2018, prior to leaving the sport to pursue golf and the conducive lifestyle of the UAE, after relocating there with his family, where his wife Merna works as a pilot. Despite his time away from Zimbabwe, Cremer remained close to cricket via coaching, including a stint at the Rajasthan Royals Academy in Dubai.

Back with a Bang in Domestic Cricket

The former international cricketer's return to the game has been nothing short of remarkable. Bacon currently plays for defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1 in the 45-over National Premier League in Zimbabwe, and after just two matches, he has risen to the top of the wicket-takers' leader board. Cremer's return started on August 3 against Queens Sports Club in Kwekwe, in familiar territory. He took 4 for 43 as Takashinga defended 263 for 6 to win comfortably by 134 runs.

“It’s amazing being back,” Cremer told 3-mob.com after the match. “Kwekwe was my home ground for many years, so it was great walking out and being part of Takashinga, which is such a prestigious club. They welcomed me into the team, and it was an amazing team environment.”

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Reuniting with Brendan Taylor

That match also saw Cremer reunited with close friend and former teammate Brendan Taylor, who scored 61 as he fine-tuned his own comeback after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code.

“We are close friends, myself and Brendan, so it was an amazing feeling being on the field with him again,” Cremer said. “Just how we communicate because we have played so much cricket together, it really helps.”

Zimbabwe’s Eyes on Major Tournaments

Zimbabwe Cricket’s announcement of the return of two of their most experienced players comes with serious ambition. The Africa Regional Qualifier will take place from September 26 to October 4, with the participation of eight teams, with the top two teams qualifying for the T20 World Cup. 

Beyond that, Zimbabwe wants to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup, as well as the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. The team missed out on the previous global matches, including the most recent T20 World Cup, after a poor loss against Uganda, and have not appeared in a 50-over World Cup since 2015. 

With 23 Test matches and 69 limited-overs internationals under his belt, Cremer's experience and wicket-taking ability could inspire the rest of the side and push Zimbabwe into the major competitions again.

The former Zimbabwe captain, Brendan Taylor, is ready to return to international cricket during the second Test of the two-match home series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. His sanction ended on July 25 and will feature from August 07.

Taylor, who has 2320 runs in 68 red-ball innings, hasn’t played since retiring abruptly in September 2021. Due to his ban, he wasn’t even able to train with the national and domestic squads. However, he had facilities to practice with the elite interdependent school in Harare and has felt more fit than ever. His eyes will be on the upcoming New Zealand Tests. 

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‘He'll be available for the second Test. But I also know how hard he's worked in his capacity - especially over the last eight, ten [or] 12 months - for this to happen. I'm very excited to have him come back into the space in the next few days, and looking forward to what he has to contribute towards the team and the group.’ Zimbabwe captain, Craig Ervine, expressed.

Twitter reacts to Brendan Taylor’s comeback to Zimbabwe side after three-and-half year ban

‘I've been humbled properly. I look forward to really just adding value, which I probably didn't do to the best of my ability when I was there before.’ The veteran right-handed batter expressed, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. He has celebrated six centuries in the longest format, including the 105* against Bangladesh, after their six-year self-imposed ban was lifted in 2011.

Zimbabwe has already named the 16-member squad for the two games, where they have kept one first-choice wicket-keeper batter in Tafadzwa Tsiga, who started the opening game of the fixture. Taylore makes his return for the side in a busy period of seven Tests in the year. Even though he won’t feature for the T20 World Cup qualifiers, there is a strong expectation of him turning up for the home ODI World Cup 2027.

🚨 39-YEAR-OLD BRENDAN TAYLOR RETURNING TO CRICKET 🚨

- He is set to play the 2nd Test against New Zealand after serving a 3 & half year ban for the Breaching ICC Anti Corruption Code. [Espn Cricinfo] pic.twitter.com/hiX1m2gQgf

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 30, 2025 

Brendan Taylor is scheduled to make a return. We are going to witness the greatest come back in the history of cricket 🥵🥵🔥😭 pic.twitter.com/HDIoM5CPk0

— Mayor Of You know What🌴 (@bxllyville) July 29, 2025

Here we Go. Brendan Taylor is back https://t.co/JD5X7jZfG1 pic.twitter.com/az3M9qjRaZ

— Sir Brendon Sann (@iamsirbreezy) July 29, 2025

Breaking

Brendan Taylor has joined the Zimbabwe National Men's Team in Bulawayo.

There is no confirmation on whether he will play or not, but I believe him being part of the team in Bulawayo is good enough to encourage others! pic.twitter.com/a7MaFGBnWc

— Chairman Bans (@The_Bans) July 29, 2025

Craig Ervine says he is excited to have Brendan Taylor back with the 🇿🇼🏏 test side. He expects BT's experience to be useful against NZ🇳🇿, although he is only available for the second test. pic.twitter.com/1PyLacCQXH

— Undisputed🎙️📺 (@Mr_Tich) July 30, 2025

New Zealand have announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Fast bowler Matt Fisher, who has used his raw pace to pick up 51 first-class wickets in 25 innings at an average of 24.11, has earned his maiden call-up for the series. Their former captain, Kane Williamson, however, remains unavailable for the series. 

Williamson will feature on the Hundred for the London Spirit, having signed a deal with Middlesex. The off-spin bowling all-rounder, Michael Bracewell, who is currently in the USA for the MLC 2025, will also not make his trip to the country. For him, it’s the same issue, given that he signed a deal with the Southern Brave.

Fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Ben Sears will also not be part of the Zimbabwe series. The former took a personal break, awaiting the birth of his first child, while Sears is on his route to recover from a side injury, which will require another one to rehab.

New Zealand announce inexperienced squad for Zimbabwe trip

With both the red-ball clashes not being part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, the Kiwi coach, Rob Walter, respected the decision of both Williamson and Bracewell. He also reckoned that it would be a great chance for the young players to take the next step in their red-ball career.

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Jacob Duffy is another uncapped player in the squad alongside Fisher. He is currently the number one-ranked T20I bowler. Will O’Rourke, Matt Henry, and Nathan Smith will complete the seam attack as they look to start a successful era after Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Ajaz Patel, who missed a huge chunk of his career, will link up with Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips in the spin attack.

Davon Conway, after getting dropped from the T20I tri-series, has returned to the longest format. Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Conway, and Phillips will join the squad after the end of the MLC 2025. The first Test of the series will be played on July 31, just five days after the end of the T20I tri-nation series.

New Zealand Test squad for the Zimbabwe series

Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young.

Pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani has added himself in the list of Zimbabwe's quckest bowlers to reach 50 Test wickets, achieving the milestone in only his 11th match and 18th innings. The lanky paceman reached the milestone in Zimbabwe’s on-going test series thus making a proud moment for himself and the entire Zimbabwean cricket fraternity. 

Muzarabani’s record places him in front of some whose names are etched in history when looking at Zimbabwe’s bowling records. He caught up with Heath Streak in terms of number of matches (11), but did so in fewer innings, further proof of his burgeoning impact and consistency with red ball. In a competition where wickets tend to be at a premium for Zimbabwe, Muzarabani’s speed and accuracy have marked him out as significant asset in recent times. 

The milestone also reflects the development of the 27-year-old as the leader of Zimbabwe’s bowling attack. In his comeback to Test cricket, Muzarabani has displayed impressive control, fitness and an ability to strike at important times which makes him an asset across formats. 

ALSO READ: After ODIs, Najmul Hossain Shanto shockingly quits Test captaincy post SL vs BAN 2025 Tests

Fastest to 50 Test Wickets for Zimbabwe (by Matches Played)

Muzarabani’s elevation is a great relief as Zimbabwe try to restore Test cricket reputation. He is not just coming off with the ball but in that process and with such a clear desire and clarity of what he wants, he’s egging on younger players in that side, to believe that you can achieve that  even in a team not playing as many Tests as the others.

His mission has only just begun, but as of right now his record speaks for itself. On this path, Blessing Muzarabani could go on to become one of the greatest fast bowlers Zimbabwe has ever produced and an inspiration to the generation that’s coming next.