Ngarava named Zimbabwe's ODI and Test captain

Fast bowler Richard Ngarava has been appointed as Zimbabwe's new Test and ODI captain, Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed on Saturday. The appointment followed the ZC Board's fourth quarter meeting in Harare.

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

Ngarava, who made his debut in 2017, leads the Zimbabwe attack alongside Blessing Muzarabani. He was the first Zimbabwean to take 100 T20I wickets and has played over 150 international matches across formats. Bennett has had a rapid rise since his first T20I in December 2023. The 22-year-old already has centuries in all three international formats, 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."