Muzarabani earns spot in ICC T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament

PACE bowler Blessing Muzarabani has been named in the recently ended T20 Team of the Tournament.

The announcement was made by the International Cricket Council (ICC), following India’s successful title defence against New Zealand, naming Muzarabani in the team of the tournament alongside global icons like Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson.

He is the only Zimbabwean player to feature in the team.

The team of the tournament was picked by a selection panel comprising West Indies great Ian Bishop, former England captain Eion Morgan, coach-turned-commentator Natalie Germanos, ICC representative Gaurav Saxena and senior Sri Lankan sports journalist Rex Clementine.

In the tournament, Muzarabani cemented his position as one of the world’s most dangerous pace bowlers as he hit 13 wickets in 6 matches.

His standout performance came in the group stages, where he dismantled the Australian top order to finish with clinical figures of 4 wickets in 17 overs.

“Blessing Muzarabani was key to Zimbabwe’s dream run at the tournament. After missing out on the 2024 edition, Zimbabwe produced their best performance at the T20 World Cups as they competed in the Super Eights.

“Zimbabwe announced their arrival with a 23-run win over Australia. In that match, Muzarabani claimed 4/17 as Australia were dismissed for 146 while chasing Zimbabwe’s 169/2. In the group stage, the pacer claimed nine wickets in three matches as his team finished at the top of Group B,” reads the ICC announcement.

That spell was the catalyst for Zimbabwe’s stunning 23-run upset over the former champions, a result that sent shockwaves through the tournament.

Muzarabani finished as the joint-third highest wicket-taker of the tournament, tied with England’s Adil Rashid and the USA’s Shadley van Schalkwyk.

The lanky bowler also assisted Zimbabwe to reach the super 8 stage, which is the highest the team has finished at the T20 World Cup.

Only the Indian duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy claimed more wickets than him.