HARARE: Another Pakistani-origin cricketer, Antum Naqvi has joined Zimbabwe following receiving his maiden call-up for the five-match T20I series against India in Harare. However, his inclusion in the squad is subject to confirmation of his citizenship status, local media reported.
Naqvi, a top-order batsman, came to prominence at the start of the year when he became the first batsman to score a triple century for any Zimbabwean side in representative cricket. He scored an unbeaten 300 for Mid-West Rhinos in the Logan Cup and leaded them in just his second year in domestic cricket.
Antum Naqvi was born in Brussels, Belgium, to Pakistani parents, and shifted to Australia when he was four, where he had earned a commercial airline pilot’s licence. He put his professional career on hold to pursue cricket.
Naqvi is the 2nd Pakistani origin to be included in the Zimbabwe squad. Sikandar Raza, who was the first Pakistani to join Zimbabwe, is leading the side in the series. Naqvi has also been a part of the player development program of Lahore Qalandars for the Queen series in Australia. Zimbabwe couldn’t qualify for the recently-ended T20 World Cup 2024. Zimbabwe and India will play five T20I matches from July 6 to 14.
Zimbabwe squad
Sikandar Raza (capt), Brian Bennett, Faraz Akram, Tendai Chatara, Johnathan Campbell, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Luke Jongwe, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Wellington Masakadza, Dion Myers, Antum Naqvi, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba.
