Zimbabwe T20 World Cup 2026 SWOT Analysis: Can Sikandar Raza and co. defy odds?

Zimbabwe are in Group B of the T20 World Cup 2026 [Source: ZimCricketv/X.com]

Zimbabwe returns to the T20 World Cup once again after missing out on the 2024 edition as they came out as the champions of the Africa regional qualifying tournament, which they hosted in September and October 2025.

The Sikandar Raza-led side were a part of Group B during the qualification campaign and comfortably defeated Tanzania, Uganda and Botswana to finish at the top with a net run rate reading +5.262, showcasing their dominance. Subsequently, they toppled Kenya and Namibia in the semi-final and final, respectively, to go undefeated in the competition.

The recently turned 22-year-old Brian Bennet was their star in the qualifiers, as he finished with 314 runs in 5 innings at a strike rate of 181.50. He scored 108 runs more than the second-best in the tournament. On the bowling front. Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava both picked 10 wickets each to cruise them past the tournament.

This will be their 7th participation in the tournament, and they are in Group B alongside three other Test-playing nations and Oman, against whom they will play their opening fixture on February 9.

The following is their schedule for the event.

• February 9: Zimbabwe vs Oman, Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo.
• February 13: Zimbabwe vs Australia, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
• February 17: Zimbabwe vs Ireland, Pallekele International Stadium, Pallekele.
• February 19: Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.

Zimbabwe squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande (wk), Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor (wk).

Strengths of Zimbabwe

1. Experienced middle order

Led by captain Sikandar Raza, the African side has a middle-order, which consists of the recently returned Brendan Taylor and Ryan Burl. While Raza is closing in on 350 T20 matches, playing leagues across the world as a key player, Taylor and Burl have also featured in close to 200 T20 matches.

The trio can, according to the situation and potenitally provide strong finishes to the innings, especially with the firepower of captain Raza.

2. Balanced bowling attack

Zimbabwe boasts of a strong pace attack, which includes the IPL winner with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Blessing Muzarabani, who has a T20I economy rate of 7.18 and is closing in on 100 scalps.

Alongside Muzarabani are the top wicket-takers from the qualifiers in Richard Ngarava, who has 108 T20I wickets at an economy of 7.30 and Brad Evans, who has been a mainstay of the team for the past few years and has an impressive strike rate of 13.72 in T20Is.

The spin department is led by Sikandar Raza, with 102 T20I scalps at a 6.76 economy rate. The leg spinner duo of Graeme Cremer and Ryan Burl are also good at containing runs and striking crucial blows in the middle overs. They also have Wellington Masakadza in the squad, who provides a different variation with his left-arm orthodox.

Weaknesses of Zimbabwe

1. Susceptible to collapses

While Zimbabwe has a promising lineup of batters, they tend to lose wickets in chunks on many occasions, leading to low team scores. A similar situation was evident when they faced the Netherlands in the first warm-up match ahead of the tournament.

2. Below-par catching standards

The Zimbabwe fielders are notorious for dropping catches while fielding in crunch situations, which dampens the mood around the team and can take a toll on confidence for the rest of the innings/match. Recently, such drops have cost them against Afghanistan and South Africa in Test cricket.

Opportunities for Zimbabwe

1. Chance for the young top-order to impress

Zimbabwe's top order is led by the very impressive Brian Bennett, who has shown a lot of potential in his early days. At just 22, he has played 52 T20Is and has 1596 runs at a strike rate of 145.48, with a century and 9 fifties. He will be partnering with Tadiwanashe Marumani and Dion Myers, in the top-3 who are both 24 and 23, respectively.

Marumani has a T20 career strike rate of 138.09, while Myers is the one who would be someone to hold the innings together with anability to produce timely big hits.

2. Improve T20 World Cup record

As things stand, Zimbabwe have a T20 World Cup record of 8 wins and 11 losses in 20 outings. This time around, they have a chance to take the record closer to at least 50% wins, with a bit of experience in the first-choice XI.

Threats to Zimbabwe

1. Limited batting depth in case of any injury

Despite having a good first choice top-6, which is likely to play all their matches, Zimbabwe lacks quality in batting depth. Especially with no Sean Williams around anymore, they are left with Clive Madande, Tony Munyonga and Tashinga Musekiwa as backup options, who all average below 20 in T20Is, despite a decent career strike rate for Musekiwa.

2. End the tournament without a win

Considering they have three Test-playing nations in the group, it will be an uphill task for them to beat a star-studded Australia and hosts Sri Lanka, while they can compete with Ireland at a good level.

Additionally, with Oman coming into the competition after a good year of preparations, playing Asia Cup against big nations and being more familiar with the sub-continent, there is a chance that Zimbabwe ends the tournament without a win.

Zimbabwe's probable playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026

Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Brad Evans, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza.

Expected finish: Group stage.