Sports Correspondent
Zimbabwe’s women’s cricket team will host West Indies Women in a six-match white-ball series later this month, with the tour comprising three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
The series, confirmed by Zimbabwe Cricket on Friday, will begin with the ODI leg at Harare Sports Club on September 24 and conclude with three T20Is at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare in early October.
The three ODIs will be played on September 24, 27 and 30, with all matches scheduled to start at 9.30am.
The T20I series will then move to Takashinga, with matches scheduled for October 3, 5 and 7.
The first T20I will start at 1pm, while the final two matches are scheduled for noon.
The ODI matches carry added significance for Zimbabwe as they form part of the ongoing ICC Women’s Championship, which provides a pathway towards qualification for major global tournaments.
The tour will also mark the first bilateral series between Zimbabwe and West Indies Women across any format.
Zimbabwe currently sit 10th in the Women’s Championship standings after losing all six of their matches in the current cycle, while West Indies are fifth with four victories from nine matches.
West Indies arrive in Zimbabwe after a strong showing against Ireland, whom they swept 3-0 in their most recent ODI series.
For Zimbabwe, the series comes during an already busy period. The Lady Chevrons are currently engaged in a five-match T20I series against South Africa, with the final match scheduled for September 19 in Bulawayo.
The short turnaround means Zimbabwe will have only a few days to prepare for the opening ODI against West Indies.
Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Givemore Makoni said the series would provide valuable exposure for the country’s women cricketers.
“We are delighted to welcome West Indies Women to Harare for what promises to be an exciting series,” Makoni said.
He said regular exposure to high-quality international cricket was important to the development of Zimbabwe’s women’s team.
Series schedule
September 24: Zimbabwe Women v West Indies Women — 1st ODI, Harare Sports Club, 9.30am
September 27: Zimbabwe Women v West Indies Women — 2nd ODI, Harare Sports Club, 9.30am
September 30: Zimbabwe Women v West Indies Women — 3rd ODI, Harare Sports Club, 9.30am
October 3: Zimbabwe Women v West Indies Women — 1st T20I, Takashinga Cricket Club, 1pm
October 5: Zimbabwe Women v West Indies Women — 2nd T20I, Takashinga Cricket Club, noon
October 7: Zimbabwe Women v West Indies Women — 3rd T20I, Takashinga Cricket Club, noon
