The Zimbabwe Under-19 squad to tour South Africa was chosen during the half-term school break. The team to compete in the International Cricket Council U19 World Cup in New Zealand in February next year will also be chosen from the squad.

The squad includes three players recently involved in the full international side - Tatenda Taibu, understudy to Andy Flower, Hamilton Masakadza, who has already lit up the international stage by becoming the youngest player to score a Test century on debut, and Sean Ervine, who is currently with the national side in Bangladesh.

The squad of eighteen also includes: Thomas Benade, Conan Brewer, Michael Brundle, Elton Chigumbura, Charles Coventry, Andrew Durham, Brendon Hammond, Richard Mackie, Stanley Marisa, Stuart Matsikenyire, Alfred Mbwembwe, Waddington Mwayenga, Jordane Nicolle, Simon Seager and Sharezad Omarshah.

Four staff will travel with the squad: Wyndam Justin-Smith as team manager, Steve Rhodes as coach, Maziva Stephen Mangongo as assistant coach and Bradley Robinson as physiotherapist for the squad.

The team will play two three-day matches; the first will be against Easterns from 30 November to 2 December in Benoni, and the second against Kwazulu-Natal in Bulawayo between 7 and 9 December. They then have an eight-day break before they play in the South African Coca-Cola Week in Vereeniging between 17 and 22 December.

Before heading off to New Zealand they will have a four-day camp in Johannesburg in January to prepare for the event. The Under-19 World Cup is held once every four years - the last one was held in South Africa in 1998.

© CricInfo