ZIM vs SA 2025: Respiratory infection rules Prince Masavure out of 2nd Test

Zimbabwe opener Prince Masvaure missed the second Test against South Africa at Queens Sports Club, which began on Sunday, owing to a respiratory tract ailment. He was declared unfit and dropped from the playing XI.

Masvaure was called into the team as a concussion replacement for Brian Bennett in the first Test last week. Bennett has also been unavailable for selection as he recovers from the concussion suffered in that encounter.

“Prince Masavure is suffering from a respiratory tract infection and was deemed unfit to play,” Zimbabwe Cricket said ahead of the game.

Dion Myers has been selected Masvaure’s replacement, one of two changes to Zimbabwe’s playing XI in the second Test. The other change sees Kundai Matigimu make his Test debut, replacing Vincent Masekesa in the present match against the Proteas.

The hosts, behind 0-1 in the two-match series against the World Test Championship winners, won the toss and chose to field first in an attempt to even the series 1-1 before moving on to the T20 action in a Tri-Nation series with New Zealand as the third team competing.

“We’ll start with a bowl. We were missing an extra seamer in the first Test, but we picked up a few wickets early. We’re going with an extra seamer today to take advantage of that early movement. We’ve been on the road a lot, which has helped our morale. Just getting the fundamentals correct, bat deep. “We’ve got two changes—Dion Myers is in,” Craig Ervine announced at the toss.

For South Africa, pro spinner Keshav Maharaj was ruled out of the match due to a groin injury, with Wiaan Mulder stepping in as stand-in captain. Senuran Muthusamy returned to the side after a nine-month absence, while Lesego Senokwane and Prenelan Subrayen were handed their Test debuts in the second match.

“Extremely proud moment for me and my family, very lucky to have some guys who have been with me since my U19 days. We had some days off, spent some time together. We’ve got a few changes, a couple of new guys coming into the team. We are going into the subcontinent from here, so we want to give the spinners some match time. This wicket also flattens out, so it should be helpful for them. The pacers that we have are known for bowling long overs either way. We were looking to bat first either way, happy with the toss,” Mulder said.