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Zimbabwe to host South Africa Women for five-match T20I series in September – Zimbabwe to Host South Africa Women for Historic Five-Match T20I Series

Nikhil Joshi · · 3 min read

A New Chapter for Women’s Cricket in Zimbabwe

The cricketing landscape in Zimbabwe is set to witness a historic occasion this September as the national women’s team prepares to host South Africa for a blockbuster five-match T20I series. This highly anticipated encounter will take place at the iconic Queens Sports Club, representing a significant milestone as it marks South Africa’s maiden visit to Zimbabwe for a women’s bilateral series. More importantly, it serves as the first-ever T20I series between these two competitive cricketing nations.

Schedule and Venue Details

Fans and enthusiasts can mark their calendars for a week of intense cricketing action. The five matches are scheduled to be played on September 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19. All fixtures are slated for a 1:30 PM local time start, ensuring prime conditions for competitive cricket at the Queens Sports Club.

Historically, the paths of these two teams have rarely crossed on the international stage. In fact, Zimbabwe and South Africa have only locked horns twice previously, with both encounters occurring during an ODI quadrangular series hosted in South Africa back in 2017.

Strategic Importance of the Tour

The significance of this tour cannot be overstated. According to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) managing director, Givemore Makoni, the series is a crucial building block for the growth of the women’s game. “South Africa are one of the strongest teams in world cricket, and this tour presents our players with a valuable opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition in home conditions,” Makoni stated.

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This series reinforces Zimbabwe Cricket’s ongoing commitment to investing in the women’s sector, aiming to create consistent, high-level competitive opportunities for their athletes to shine on the world stage. By hosting a side of South Africa’s caliber, the ZC is clearly prioritizing the development of local talent and the expansion of the women’s international calendar.

Recent Form and Future Aspirations

Zimbabwe Women have been working diligently to climb the international rankings. Their last home series took place between September and October 2025 against the UAE. Following that, the squad participated in the 2026 T20 World Cup Global Qualifier. While the results in that tournament proved challenging, with the team facing defeats in all four of their matches, the experience gained was invaluable. Subsequent tours to New Zealand and Pakistan have further exposed the players to diverse bowling attacks and playing conditions, strengthening their resolve.

Looking ahead, the momentum continues well beyond this series. Once the South African tour concludes, the Zimbabwe Women’s squad is scheduled to embark on a challenging tour of India. That upcoming trip will feature three T20Is and three ODIs, marking a major milestone as it will be Zimbabwe’s first-ever visit to India for a women’s international tour. These back-to-back high-profile series reflect a new era of ambition for Zimbabwean cricket, as they look to bridge the gap between themselves and the world’s top-tier teams through consistent exposure to elite-level competition. Cricket fans across the nation will certainly be eager to see how their home side performs against the Proteas in the coming weeks.

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