ZIM vs IND 2026: Why are Indian and Zimbabwean players wearing black armbands at Harare?

Both India and Zimbabwe players were seen wearing a black armband across their arms during the second T20I in a three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, July 25. The gesture was made to pay homage to the late Sylvester Matshaka, the former Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) Vice Chair, who sadly passed away the previous night, aged 76. 

Matshaka passed away a day before the second T20I at West End Clinic in Harare after briefly suffering from an illness. The former board member oversaw the rejuvenation of the Zimbabwe Men’s squad, which recently saw them beat Bangladesh in a one-off Test match and the subsequent One Day International (ODI) series. 

“#TeamIndia and Zimbabwe players are wearing black armbands to pay their respects to the Zimbabwe Cricket Vice-chairman Sylvester Matshaka, who passed away last night,” the official BCCI X (formerly Twitter) account posted. 

Matshaka served cricket in Zimbabwe for more than two decades. He first joined the organisation in 2006 and was appointed Vice Chair nine years later, a position he would hold until his sad demise on Friday, July 24. 

Not only cricket, but Matshaka also served in the Zimbabwean government. He was named Provincial Education Director in the Ministry of Education for Mashonaland East before being appointed as the Deputy Director of Sport and Culture. 

Zimbabwe will be looking to secure a win against India to not only honour their former Vice Chair, but also to stay in the series. The Chevrons suffered a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of India in the first T20I after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored his maiden international half-century. 

Zimbabwe have a bright cricketing future ahead of them with the nation set to co-host the 2027 Cricket World Cup along with South Africa and Namibia.