Belgium-born Antum Naqvi gets called up for Zimbabwe as they announce their squad for T20I series against India

Zimbabwe announce their squad for the upcoming T20I series against India.

Antum Naqvi, image courtesy: ESPNCricinfo

Batter Antum Naqvi has gotten his first call-up for Zimbabwe for the upcoming five-match T20I fray against India. However, his inclusion to the Zimbabwean side is subjective to the clearance of his citizenship status.

Naqvi is who is just 25 years old, hogged the limelight when he went onto become the first player to hammer a triple century for any Zimbabwean contingent. He smashed 300 for Mid West Rhinos in the Logan Cup and also went onto captain the team in his very second year for the outfit.

It was a clash between the Rhinos and the Matabeleland Tuskers in the Logan Cup which was conducted in Harare, the same venue where India will be playing Zimbabwe. His 300 shattered a host of records in the history of Zimbabwe’s first-class cricket.

When he scored 265, he leapfrogged Cephas Zhuwao for the highest individual score in the history of Logan Cup. Ray Gripper’s 279 which was the highest score in Zimbabwe’s first-class cricket that came in 1968-69 Currie Cup was the next one to fall. The last record to shatter was that of Brian Davinson whose 299 was the highest score in Logan Cup before it got announced as a first-class tournament. Naqvi is usually a top-order batter whose strike rate reads a staggering 146.80 in seven T20s.

He actually hails from Brussels, Belgium and was born to Pakistani parents. He then shifted to Australia at the tender age of just four years and eventually grew up there as he clinched a commercial pilot’s license. As per the reports of BBC Cricket, he decided to put his aviation career on halt in order to pursue cricket.

A glance at the Zimbabwean squad for the T20I series against India

With such incredible credentials, the inclusion of Antum Naqvi definitely would be a massive boost to the Zimbabwean batting order which has seen itself improve in the last few years. With the presence of Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams, the Zimbabwean squad will be hoping to put up a full-blown fight against the young brigade of Team India.

Zimbabwe squad for India: Sikandar Raza (captain), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Antum Naqvi, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba

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