Zimbabwe cricket: Sikandar Raza named in squad for England Test

Zimbabwe have recalled all-rounder Sikandar Raza for their one-off Test with England.

The 39-year-old missed his country’s last two-Test series, in which they drew 1-1 with Bangladesh and lost a single match to Ireland, because of franchise cricket commitments.

He now returns for Zimbabwe’s first red-ball match in England since 2003, with the four-day game taking place at Trent Bridge from 22-25 May.

Raza, who is third in the ICC’s one-day international rankings for all-rounders and seventh in T20s, has been playing in the Pakistan Super League for Lahore Qalanders.

He replaces Johnathan Campbell from the 15-man party that toured Bangladesh, while seamer Newman Nyamhuri comes in for leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa and Clive Madande returns from injury to take the place of Nyasha Mayavo as back-up wicketkeeper.

The squad will also take on South Africa at Arundel from 3-6 June, with their opponents preparing for their World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s later in the month.

England have named uncapped Essex seamer Sam Cook in their squad for the encounter in Nottingham.

Zimbabwe last toured England for Tests in 2003, losing at Lord’s and Chester-le-Street.

Zimbabwe squad: Craig Ervine (captain), Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams