Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine has been ruled out of the two-match ODI series against Sri Lanka due to a calf injury.

In Ervine’s absence, Sean Williams will be leading the side in the Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe 2025. Ervine suffered a grade 2 strain in his left calf, along with a chronic and resolving Grade 1 strain in his right calf on the eve of the ODI series.

Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are slated to play two ODIs and three T20Is from August 29 until September 07.

Ervine has played 128 ODIs in his 15-year-long international career, scoring 1926 runs at an average of 33.78 with four centuries, including his best of 130 not out, against New Zealand in Harare back in 2015.

Craig Ervine is one of the most experience players and a key member of the batting unit. Despite missing some cricket in recent years, often because of injury, but the most recent absence in a Test against Ireland in February 2025.

Meanwhile Sean Williams had missed that Test with a back injury, but both of them returned to the squad for the Test series in Bangladesh at home in April-May.

Speaking at the toss, Sean Williams said,”We are going to bowl first. This is really good wicket. If we are going to get out fast bowlers to get anything out of the surface, it’s going to be early in the morning.”

“Craig (Ervine) has a grade 2 tear on one calf and grade 1 on the other, we wish him all the best in his recovery. Very good to be back here. The support here is phenomenal. Our team plays really well here,” he added.

“We’ve done reasonably well against them (Sri Lanka). We’ve been unfortunate in a few cases. We fancy our chances. We want to play positive cricket. Wessly Madhevere comes in,” he added.

Zimbabwe Playing 11 for 1st ODIs: Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Brendan Taylor (wk), Savari Randaams (C), Sin Williams (c), Sin Williams (c), Sana Williams (c), Sin Williams (C), Sin Williams (c), SANDAZA KZAs (C), SANKLA KEZAs (c), SANDAZA. Trevor.