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Zimbabwe lose veteran Sean Williams from their T20 World Cup Qualifier squad

Soumyajit Dutta

Sean Williams in the national jersey [Source: @ICC/X.com]Sean Williams in the national jersey [Source: @ICC/X.com]

Veteran batter Sean Williams has been withdrawn from the Zimbabwe squad participating in the ongoing Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Final. The 39-year-old was released from the host nation's squad due to personal reasons, with wicketkeeper-batter Clive Madande named as his replacement.

The development comes after Zimbabwe began their campaign with a five-wicket victory over Uganda on Friday, a match in which Sean Williams did not feature. The tournament serves as a pathway to the 2026 T20 World Cup, with the top two teams earning qualification.

Madande steps into crucial qualifier for Williams

Clive Madande, known for his agile wicketkeeping and capable lower-order batting, now joins the squad as they continue their quest for a World Cup spot. His inclusion provides a fresh option for the team management as they navigate the round-robin tournament featuring eight nations, including strong contenders like Namibia.

Zimbabwe will be aiming to build on their winning start despite the absence of the experienced Williams, whose all-round skills have been a mainstay of the national side for many years.

World Cup qualification at stake

The Africa Region Final represents a critical opportunity for Zimbabwe to secure a place in the global tournament scheduled for India and Sri Lanka in early 2026. The hosts are considered one of the favourites to progress, alongside other top Associate nations in the competition.

The team's next fixtures will be closely watched as they adapt to the sudden change in squad composition. The tournament continues with all teams looking to seal the two available spots at the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Zimbabwe's updated squad for T20 World Cup Africa Region Final

Sikandar Raza (capt), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tinotenda Maposa, Tony Munyonga, Dion Myers, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor.