Ngarava named Zimbabwe's ODI and Test captain

Fast bowler Richard Ngarava has been named appointed as Zimbabwe's new Test and ODI captain, Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed on Saturday (December 20). The appointment was made following ZC Board's fourth quarter meeting in Harare.

Brian Bennett, the 22-year-old who made his Test and ODI debut only last year, has been named vice-captain. The changes were necessitated after veteran Craig Ervine stepped down as the skipper.

Ngarava, who made his debut in 2017, is the leader of the Zimbabwe attack alongside Blessing Muzarabani. He was the first Zimbabwean to take 100 T20I wickets and has played over 150 matches in international cricket across formats. Bennett on the other hand has had a rapid rise ever since he played his first T20I in December 2023. The 22-year-old already has centuries in all three formats of the game at the international level, including the fastest Test hundred by a Zimbabwean.

"Ngarava has shown remarkable growth as a player and leader over the years," ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said. "He commands respect within the dressing room and has consistently delivered for Zimbabwe across all formats. We believe he is ready to lead the team into its next chapter.

"Brian's appointment as vice-captain reflects our confidence in his cricketing intelligence, maturity and long-term leadership potential. He represents the future of Zimbabwean cricket. Craig Ervine led with professionalism, resilience and dignity during a challenging period. ZC is deeply grateful for his contribution to the team's stability and progress."