ZIM vs IRE: Craig Ervine ruled out of three-match T20I series, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe announced as replacement

The Zimbabwe camp has been struck by an injury ahead of their first T20I vs Ireland as their star batter Craig Ervine has been ruled out of the three-match series. Ervine picked up an injury while training and will not any part in the three-match affair starting from Thursday, December 07 at Harare Sports Club, Harare. He will be replaced by 28-year-old Tinashe Kamunhukamwe who has played ten T20Is in his career so far with 214 runs to his name.

Notably, Ervine is the fourth-highest run scorer in Zimbabwe’s T20I history with 1349 runs to his name from 64 innings at an average of 22.48 and a strike rate of 105.88 with eight fifties to his name.  The 38-year-old veteran has scored 217 runs from nine innings in T20Is in 2023 at an average of 27.12 and a strike rate of 107.96 with two fifties to his name.

Also Read: Zimbabwe vs Ireland, 1st T20I 2023: Match preview, playing XI, Head to Head, Where to Watch on TV & Live Streaming Details

The Harare-born batter will be a big miss for his side in the upcoming series vs Ireland as he boasts an experience of 13 years. The Zimbabwe team management would hope that Ervine regains fitness ahead of the ODI series beginning from December 13 as the southpaw has been in excellent form this year. In the 11 ODIs played in the year so far, Ervine has scored 395 runs at an average of 43.88 and a strike rate of 86.62 with one hundred and a fifty to his name.

Also Read: Ireland skipper Paul Stirling looks forward for first series win in Zimbabwe

Meanwhile, Ireland and Zimbabwe have had a competitive history in T20Is as both teams have won six matches each after 12 T20Is. In the three T20I series played so far between the two teams, one each has been won by both teams while one has ended in a draw. Hence, the upcoming series promises to be another mouth-watering affair between two cricketing nations where both sides will give their all on the field to win the three-match series.