Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has appointed an interim technical team to lead the Zimbabwe Women’s national side on their historic tour of New Zealand, where they will make their debut appearance in the ICC Women’s Championship.

Former New Zealand Women international Kate Ebrahim has been named interim head coach for the tour.

She will be assisted by Travor Phiri as interim assistant coach, while Debu Banik of New Zealand joins the squad as bowling consultant.

Pamela Moyo has been appointed physiotherapist, with former Zimbabwe Women international Thandolwenkosi Mlilo serving as team manager, completing the interim backroom staff.

The interim technical team replaces the Walter Chawaguta-led coaching and support staff, who were asked to step aside following Zimbabwe Women’s disappointing performance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026 in Nepal in January.

The ZC Board will announce substantive appointments to the Zimbabwe Women’s technical structure in due course.

ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni said the interim arrangements were necessary to provide stability and renewed direction as the team embarks on a landmark chapter.

“We felt it was important to act decisively following the recent T20 World Cup Qualifier campaign,” he said.

“As we enter the ICC Women’s Championship for the first time, this is a significant moment for Zimbabwe Women’s cricket and it demands renewed focus, energy and accountability.

“Kate Ebrahim brings valuable international playing experience, including deep knowledge of New Zealand conditions.

“We believe she is well placed to guide the team during this important tour while we finalise permanent appointments.”

Ebrahim is married to former Zimbabwe international and current Zimbabwe senior men’s assistant coach Dion Ebrahim.

ZC has also named experienced left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda as interim captain for the New Zealand tour.

Zimbabwe Women will depart Harare this Wednesday for what will be their maiden appearance in the ICC Women’s Championship, which forms part of the 2025-2029 cycle – the fourth edition of the competition and the main qualification pathway for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2029.

The tour begins with a three-match T20 International series against New Zealand women’s national cricket team at Seddon Park in Hamilton on 25 and 27 February and 1 March, providing Zimbabwe Women valuable time to acclimatise to local conditions.

The focus will then shift to Dunedin for three One-Day Internationals at the University of Otago Oval on 5, 8 and 11 March 2026.

The ODIs will count towards the ICC Women’s Championship standings.

Zimbabwe Women secured their place in the championship following its expansion from 10 to 11 teams in November 2024 – a move reflecting the steady growth of the women’s game in the country.

Under the current format, each of the 11 participating teams will contest eight three-match ODI series – four home and four away – across the cycle.

According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, Zimbabwe Women will travel to New Zealand, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, while hosting South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Ireland. Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has named a 13-man Zimbabwe ‘A’ squad to take on the visiting Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in a three-day match scheduled for 10-12 October at Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare.

The side features several players who have been part of Zimbabwe’s recent international fixtures, among them Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tinotenda Maposa, Vincent Masekesa and Tafadzwa Tsiga.

Antum Naqvi, Takudzwa Chataira and Anesu Kamuriwo are the only members of the squad yet to make their full international debuts.

The fixture offers a valuable opportunity for Zimbabwe’s next generation of cricketers to test themselves against quality opposition.

MCC’s visit marks a historic return to Zimbabwe – the English club’s first since their 1964/65 tour –reaffirming cricket’s enduring ties between the two nations.

The touring team began their seven-match schedule earlier this week with two T20s and a 50-over match against provincial side Rhinos at Kwekwe Sports Club.

Following the three-day contest in Harare, MCC will conclude their tour with three T20s against the Zimbabwe Academy at Takashinga Cricket Club next week.

MCC has brought a competitive 13-man squad captained by Glamorgan batter Will Smale, underlining the high-performance nature of the tour.

Nine players in the visiting team boast first-class and/or List A experience.

Smale was a standout performer in Glamorgan’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign this summer, notably scoring a century against Surrey at the Kia Oval.

He is joined by Worcestershire’s Ben Allison – a member of this year’s One-Day Cup-winning side – and Essex wicketkeeper Simon Fernandes.

The squad also includes Kent leg-spinner Mo Rizvi, Scotland international Jasper Davidson and Joseph Davies, who earned his place through an impressive showing in the relaunched MCC Young Cricketers programme.

ZIMBABWE ‘A’ SQUAD FOR THREE-DAY MATCH VS MCC

Takudzwa Chataira, Tanaka Chivanga, Innocent Kaia, Roy Kaia, Anesu Kamuriwo, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tanunurwa Makoni, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Vincent Masekesa, Antum Naqvi, Tafadzwa Tsiga

MCC SQUAD FOR ZIMBABWE TOUR

Will Smale (Captain), Sam Athurton, Ben Allison, Daniel da Costa, Jasper Davidson, Joseph Davies, Simon Fernandes, Alistair Frost, Michael Frost, Darren Ironside, Billy Mead, Mo Rizvi, Matt Wareing ZimCricket

UAE Women – 183-3 in 20 overs (Esha Oza 97, Theertha Satish 49, Heena Hotchandani 10*; Lindokuhle Mabhera 2/29, Josephine Nkomo 1/25)

Zimbabwe Women – 148-6 in 20 overs (Chiedza Dhururu 67*, Josephine Nkomo 43, Kelis Ndhlovu 22; Samaira Dharnidharka 3/19, Siya Gokhale 2/29, Heena Hotchandani 1/22) 

UAE Women won by 35 runs

Zimbabwe Women’s Chiedza Dhururu produced a valiant unbeaten 67 to anchor her side’s innings, but her efforts were not enough to prevent a 35-run defeat to the United Arab Emirates Women in the first T20 international at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.

Dhururu’s composed knock, which included a crucial 77-run fifth-wicket partnership with Josephine Nkomo (43), offered the hosts hope after a disastrous start that saw them reduced to 17 for three following a sensational hat-trick by seamer Samaira Dharnidharka.

Earlier, UAE Women’s captain Esha Oza set the tone for the visitors’ commanding performance with a blistering 97 off 55 balls, powering her team to 183 for three after choosing to bat first.

Oza and Theertha Satish, with 49 off 50, combined for a dominant 142-run opening stand, leaving Zimbabwe Women’s bowlers struggling for breakthroughs.

The home side finally struck in the 15th over when Lindokuhle Mabhera had Oza caught by Franscisca Chipare, just three runs short of what would have been a memorable century.

Mabhera went on to claim two for 29 in her four-over spell, emerging as Zimbabwe Women’s most effective bowler, while Nkomo chipped in with one for 25.

Chasing a stiff target of 184, Zimbabwe Women’s innings got off to a disastrous start when Dharnidharka dismissed Nyasha Gwanzura for four before trapping Modester Mupachikwa lbw and bowling Loreen Tshuma with successive deliveries to complete a remarkable hat-trick.

From 17 for three, Kelis Ndhlovu, with 22 off 16, and Dhururu briefly steadied the ship with a 32-run stand before Ndhlovu was bowled by Siya Gokhale.

Dhururu and Nkomo then rebuilt the innings impressively, rotating the strike and finding boundaries to keep Zimbabwe Women in contention.

Their stand took the score to 126 for five when Nkomo fell to a catch by Oza off Heena Hotchandani in the 18th over, but by then the required run rate had spiralled beyond reach.

Zimbabwe Women needed 54 runs from the final 12 balls, and despite Dhururu’s determined effort to the end, they could only close on 148 for six.

Dhururu’s unbeaten 67 came off 58 balls and included seven fours. 

Dharnidharka’s figures of three for 19 were pivotal in setting up UAE Women’s victory, while Gokhale supported with two for 29.

The second and final T20I will be played at the same venue this Monday afternoon, with the hosts aiming to level the series. Zimbabwe Cricket