Berliner Tageszeitung - Raza replaces injured captain Ervine as Zimbabwe opt to bowl

Pakistan-born Raza missed the Twenty20 series between the countries this month, which Zimbabwe won 2-1, as he was playing franchise cricket in Bangladesh.

Returning for the longer one-day format, his 43 helped Zimbabwe win a thrilling, rain-affected first ODI thanks to a boundary from wicketkeeper Clive Madande off the final ball.

Raza has been nominated for three ICC 2022 awards -- Cricketer of the Year, ODI Cricketer of the Year and T20 Cricketer of the Year.

His decision to field first was influenced by the fact that all four T20 and ODI matches between the sides this month have been won by the team batting second.

Ireland also had a change of captaincy with Paul Stirling taking over from Andy Balbirnie, who suffered concussion after being struck on the head during the first ODI three days ago.

Teams

Zimbabwe

Innocent Kaia, Tawananyasha Marumani, Chamu Chibhabha, Gary Ballance, Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande (wkt), Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, Victor Nyauchi

Ireland

Paul Stirling (capt), Stephen Doheny, Murray Commins, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker (wkt), Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Graham Hume, Josh Little

Umpires: Michael Gough (ENG), Forster Mutizwa (ZIM)

TV umpire: Christopher Phiri (ZIM)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

N. Lebedew--BTZ