Sikandar Raza will lead Zimbabwe in both white-ball formats on the team's upcoming tour of the United Arab Emirates, a month-long assignment that pits them against Afghanistan and Bangladesh in an ODI tri-series before three T20Is and two Tests against Afghanistan.

Raza takes the reins in Ngarava's absence

Raza will captain the ODI side in the absence of Richard Ngarava, who continues to recover from a back injury. The 50-over squad is largely the group that faced Australia in Harare last month, a series Australia swept 3-0.

Two changes have been made to that pool: Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Masekesa come in for Innocent Kaia and Graeme Cremer. Both newcomers are in contention to make their debuts in either white-ball format on the tour.

Kaia set to return for the T20Is

Kaia, who suffered a thigh strain during the Australia series, is still recovering but is expected to be available for the T20I leg against Afghanistan, where he is restored to the squad. Kundai Matigimu will replace Brad Evans for the third and final T20I.

The batting group blends experience and youth. Raza, Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor provide the senior core, joined by Ben Curran, Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani. Blessing Muzarabani will spearhead the pace attack alongside Evans, Ernest Masuku and Newman Nyamhuri, while Wellington Masakadza and Masekesa are among the spin options.

The schedule

Zimbabwe open their tri-series campaign against Bangladesh on October 17 before meeting Afghanistan on October 19. Afghanistan and Bangladesh play the final round-robin fixture on October 21, with the top two sides advancing to the final on October 23.

The T20I series against Afghanistan follows on October 27 and 29 and November 1. The tour then concludes with two Tests, scheduled for November 5-9 and November 13-17, wrapping up a month-long programme running from October 17 to November 17.

Full squads

Zimbabwe ODI squad: Sikandar Raza (captain), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere.

Zimbabwe T20I squad: Sikandar Raza (captain), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brian Bennett, Innocent Kaia, Kundai Matigimu, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere.

Afghanistan are hosting the multi-format block in the UAE as part of a packed home season, with the venues still to be finalised by the Afghanistan Cricket Board, as reported in earlier coverage of the tour on September 10. For Zimbabwe, the trip offers a chance to rebuild in 50-over cricket after a chastening 3-0 ODI series defeat in Harare in September, when Josh Inglis's century sealed a one-wicket win for Australia in the finale and completed the sweep.