Zimbabwe Cricket has announced a historic leadership transition as Richard Ngarava prepares to lead the national team for the first time in Test cricket when they face Bangladesh in a one-off Test at the Harare Sports Club, beginning on June 28.

The announcement was made by Zimbabwe Cricket on Tuesday (June 23), revealing a 15-member squad for the fixture. Ngarava's appointment as captain marks a significant milestone in his career, following his appointment as both Test and ODI skipper in December 2025.

Squad Announcement and Key Absences

The squad composition sees several changes from Zimbabwe's previous Test appearance. Notably, Sikandar Raza has been granted permission to continue his commitments with Worcestershire in England's T20 Blast, making him unavailable for selection.

The Zimbabwe squad for the Bangladesh Test includes: Richard Ngarava (Captain), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Graeme Cremer, Ben Curran, Craig Ervine, Brad Evans, Innocent Kaia, Roy Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Brendan Taylor, and Tafadzwa Tsiga.

Return of Experienced Players

This will be Zimbabwe's first Test since their memorable victory against Afghanistan in October 2025, where Ngarava himself impressed with a five-wicket haul. The match also saw Ben Curran score a century while Brad Evans claimed a five-wicket haul in a dominant win by an innings and 73 runs.

Following this impressive performance, the selection panel has recalled five players who were not part of the Afghanistan Test. Innocent Kaia, Graeme Cremer, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wessly Madhwere, and Newman Nyamhuri have all earned recalls after strong performances in domestic and representative cricket.

Historical Context: Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh

Zimbabwe and Bangladesh last met in a two-Test series in Bangladesh in April-May last year. The series ended with honours shared between the two nations. Zimbabwe secured a three-wicket victory in the opening Test - their first win in the format in four years - before Bangladesh bounced back to level the series in the second game.

As Zimbabwe embarks on this new chapter under Ngarava's leadership, cricket fans will be eager to see if the hosts can replicate their previous success against Bangladesh and continue their upward trajectory in Test cricket.