IND vs ZIM: Pakistan-origin pilot to pose threat in Zimbabwe in T20 series for Indian team

After winning the T20 World Cup 2024 title, Team India is now scheduled to play the T20 series in Zimbabwe. A 5 match series is going to be played between India and Zimbabwe. Which is starting from next Saturday i.e. 6 July. The Zimbabwe Cricket Board has announced the squad for the series against India.

Zimbabwe has also included a player of Pakistani origin in their squad, who has been making headlines in domestic cricket. Which can be seen as a big threat for Team India in the upcoming T20 series.

The player of Pakistani origin will play against Team India

Sikandar Raza will lead the Zimbabwe cricket team in the T20 series between India and Zimbabwe. The most talked about player in the announced squad is Antum Naqvi. 25-year-old Antum Naqvi, who made it to the national team with his performances in domestic cricket, has been included in the Zimbabwe squad for the first time. Antum plays as a right-arm off-spinner and a right-handed batsman. Recently, he has been in the limelight for his performances in domestic cricket and has connections with Pakistan.

Who is Antum Naqvi? know

The 25-year-old Antum Naqvi, who got a place in the national team against India, was born in Brussels, Belgium. However, his parents are originally from Pakistan. When Antum was four years old, his family moved to Australia, where he studied in Sydney. Antum is also a pilot, but decided to represent Zimbabwe in international cricket and applied for citizenship there. Naqvi plays for Mid West Rhinos in domestic cricket.

Big bang in a short career

Naqvi has played 10 First Class matches, 7 T20s and 8 List A matches in his domestic career so far. He has scored 792 runs in first class matches at an average of 72.00, including 4 centuries.

Antum Naqvi has scored 514 runs at an average of 73.42 in List A and has scored 138 runs in T20s. He has scored these runs at a strike rate of 146.80 in T20s. Naqvi has also scored triple centuries in first class cricket. This was the first triple century in Zimbabwe's domestic cricket history.

Zimbabwe squad for T20 series against India

Sikandar Raza (capt), Akram Faraj, Bennett Bryan, Campbell Jonathan, Chatara Tendai, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Medende Clive, Madhavare Wesley, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Wellington, Mawuta Brandon, Muzarabani Blessing, Myers Dian, Naqvi Antum, Ngarwa Richard , Shumba Milton.