By Tendai Chisiri
HARARE – Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has confirmed new captaincy appointments for its senior national teams, with fast bowler Richard Ngarava handed the Test and ODI leadership, Sikandar Raza retained as T20I captain, and Josephine Nkomo appointed captain of the Zimbabwe Women’s team.
The appointments were recommended by the ZC Board’s Cricket Committee and endorsed at a Board meeting in Harare on 23 June 2026, the association announced in a media release dated 10 July 2026.
Ngarava made his captaincy debut in the recent one-off Test against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club. He will now lead the side in both Test and One-Day International cricket.
Raza, one of Zimbabwe’s most experienced all-rounders, will continue to lead the T20 International side.
The Board also named vice-captains across the men’s formats: Brian Bennett as Test vice-captain, Raza as ODI vice-captain, and Ngarava as T20I vice-captain.
In the women’s set-up, experienced all-rounder Nkomo takes over as captain, with left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda appointed vice-captain.
ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said the Board considered leadership qualities, experience and character in making the appointments.
“Captaincy is about far more than leading a team onto the field. It demands integrity, resilience, sound judgement and the ability to inspire those around you,” Mukuhlani said.
“The Board has every confidence that Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza and Josephine Nkomo possess those qualities and will lead their respective teams with distinction.
“We are equally confident that Brian Bennett, Nomvelo Sibanda and the vice-captains across our national teams will provide invaluable support while continuing to grow into leadership roles of their own.”
The leadership changes come at an important stage for Zimbabwe’s teams. The men are looking to build on recent progress on the international stage, while the women earlier this year embarked on their historic first ICC Women’s Championship campaign.
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