Zimbabwe appoints Richard Ngarava as captain in ODIs and Tests

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) have replaced Craig Ervine with Richard Ngarava for the role of the captain of the men's team. Ervine first captained the Test side in 2020 against Bangladesh and took charge of the ODI team in 2021. On the other hand, Ngarava has been playing for the Chevrons since February 2016. The left-arm seamer has represented Zimbabwe in 11 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 90 T20Is, bagging a total of 203 wickets.

Zimbabwe Cricket Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani asserted that the 27-year-old Ngarava is ready to take on the responsibility of captaining the national team.

"Ngarava has shown remarkable growth as a player and leader over the years. 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," Mukuhlani was quoted as saying by India Today.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Brian Bennett has been named as Ngarava's deputy. He has made a stunning impact for Zimbabwe in the nascent stages of his international career. Mukuhlani also shared his thoughts on the all-rounder, who made his international debut in December 2023.

"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," Mukuhlani remarked.

Mukuhlani also appreciated the efforts of outgoing captain Craig Ervine, who led the team during a challenging period and produced some memorable results. One of the standout moments under his leadership came in January 2022 when Zimbabwe defeated Sri Lanka in an ODI series in the Island Nation.

"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," said Mukuhlani.

Ngarava will look to get his captaincy tenure off to a solid start. Zimbabwe are gearing up to play the 2026 T20 World Cup, starting in February. They are placed in Group B alongside Oman, Australia, Ireland, and Sri Lanka.