Belgian-born allrounder Antum Naqvi has been included in Zimbabwe's Test squad for their two-match series against Afghanistan, which starts on Thursday. Naqvi, who has been playing in Zimbabwe since 2023, has met the ICC's criteria for eligibility for his adopted country and could make a much-anticipated debut in Sharjah.
Naqvi is a highly-rated player who has a batting average of 60.35 and was the first player to score a triple-century for any team in Zimbabwe, when he made 300* for the Mid-West Rhinos against the Tuskers in 2024. He has a total of six first-class hundreds and eight fifties to his name from 24 matches and has also taken 62 wickets.
Twenty-two-year-old Brian Bennett will captain Zimbabwe in the absence of regular skipper Richard Ngarava, who continues to recover from a back problem. Bennett has an experienced batting line-up under his command, including former captains Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor, while Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia and Tadiwanashe Marumani are all expected to feature in the series.
Zimbabwe's pace attack will have to do without Ngarava and Tanaka Chivanga but has Blessing Muzarabani at its disposal, alongside Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Kundai Matigimu, who has played one Test, and the uncapped Ernest Masuku.
Legspinner Graeme Cremer, the third 40-year-old in the side after Ervine and Taylor, has been recalled. Cremer has not played a Test in almost nine years after last featuring for Zimbabwe in a day-night Test in South Africa in December 2017, but has been part of Zimbabwe's recent white-ball sides and has experience in the UAE, where he has lived for several years. Cremer, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza and Naqvi make up the spin options.
Naqvi, who is of Pakistani heritage and has also lived in Australia, was originally called up by Zimbabwe in July 2024 for a T20I series against India but his participation was subject to his passport status. At the time, he had applied for naturalisation in Zimbabwe. He was then called up again to play a Test against Afghanistan in October 2025 but again, had not received the required paperwork.
As recently as June this year, Zimbabwe Cricket was awaiting confirmation that he could represent Zimbabwe but said in a statement on Wednesday that he has been cleared to play.
Zimbabwe squad for Afghanistan Tests
Brian Bennett (capt), Antum Naqvi, Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Graeme Cremer, Innocent Kaia, Ernest Masuku, Kundai Matigimu, Newman Nyamhuri, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere