BULAWAYO, Sept 11: Zimbabwe have dropped four players from the team that lost both Tests against New Zealand last month for the two-Test series against India starting on Tuesday. Batsmen Stuart Carlisle and Craig Wishart, who have both have had their contracts revoked, were among the four to be axed when the 13-man squad was announced on Sunday.

Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer has also been left out, along with seamer Christopher Mpofu.

All-rounder Andy Blignaut, off-spinner Prosper Utseya and four players new to Test cricket — batsmen Terrence Duffin, Charles Coventry and Sean Williams and paceman Waddington Mwayenga — come into the squad.

Ex-captain Heath Streak has been named in the squad despite having surgery to remove a blood clot on his shin a week ago. He will undergo a fitness test on Monday, with Mpofu or Anthony Ireland on standby.

Squad: Dion Ebrahim, Terrence Duffin, Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Charles Coventry, Heath Streak (vice-captain), Andy Blignaut, Keith Dabengwa, Prosper Utseya, Blessing Mahwire, Sean Williams, Waddington Mwayenga.—Reuters