Zimbabwe Cricket has appointed fast bowler Richard Ngarava as the permanent captain for Test and ODI formats.
HARARE
Fast bowler Richard Ngarava has been appointed to permanently lead Zimbabwe’s men’s Test and One-Day International (ODI) cricket teams. According to an official announcement by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), veteran batting all-rounder Sikandar Raza has simultaneously been retained to guide the national team in the T20 International format.
In a concurrent development for the women’s national side, the board named experienced all-rounder Josephine Nkomo as the new captain. Nkomo takes over the leadership role following the retirement of long-time skipper Mary-Anne Musonda, who stepped away from international cricket this past April.
These key leadership appointments were formally recommended by the ZC Board’s Cricket Committee and officially approved during a high-profile board meeting in Harare. Ngarava recently made a highly successful captaincy debut during Zimbabwe’s one-off Test victory against Bangladesh at the Harare Sports Club, and he is currently leading the team in an ongoing three-match ODI series against them.
To support the leadership structure, promising youngster Brian Bennett has been named the vice-captain for the Test squad. Raza will step in to serve as the vice-captain for the 50-over ODI format, while Ngarava will conversely act as Raza’s deputy in T20Is. For the women’s national team, left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda will step up as vice-captain to assist Nkomo.
ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani stated that the board thoroughly evaluated the character, resilience, and integrity of the chosen players. He expressed absolute confidence that Ngarava, Raza, and Nkomo possess the precise qualities required to lead their respective teams with distinction, while allowing younger players to grow into future leaders.
These structural changes arrive at a critical juncture for Zimbabwean cricket. The men’s team is actively working to maintain its recent positive competitive momentum on the world stage. Meanwhile, the women’s national team has recently embarked on its historic maiden appearance in the ICC Women’s Championship, marking a brand new era for the sport in the country.