Vitori returns to Zimbabwe ODI squad

Fast bowler Brian Vitori, who last played top-level cricket for Zimbabwe almost a year ago due to injury, makes a return to their ODI squad for the three home games against South Africa. Nineteen-year-old pace-bowling allrounder Luke Jongwe and 23-year-old seamer Neville Madziva are Zimbabwe's new faces for the series, which will be Elton Chigumbura's first in charge in his second stint as full-time captain.

Zimbabwe Test captain Brendon Taylor, from whom Chigumbura takes over in limited-overs cricket, keeps his place as a wicketkeeper-batsmen in the squad. Offspinner John Nyumbu who became only the second Zimbabwean to take a five-for on Test debut in the one-off Test against South Africa, has been included, while legspinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi who got one ODI in Zimbabwe's previous 50-overs assignment, against Afghanistan, remains in the squad. Zimbabwe had begun that series well, going 2-0 up before Afghanistan fought back to level it at 2-2. Following that, the captaincy changed hands.

Seamer Tendai Chatara, who was part of Zimbabwe's two previous ODI series - they played Pakistan before Afghanistan - misses out. The series against Afghanistan, however, was the only one-day cricket Zimbabwe have played so far in 2014, the series against Pakistan being all of a year ago. In that series as well, they failed to build on a good start, going from 1-0 up to lose it 1-2.

Against South Africa, they are scheduled to play three ODIs in Bulawayo between August 17 and 21. That will be followed by a triangular series that includes these two teams and Australia.