Zimbabwe women, led by skipper Josephine Nkomo, are set to make history as they host West Indies, captained by Hayley Matthews, for their maiden white-ball bilateral series, a six-fixture tour comprising three ODIs and three T20Is from 24 September to 7 October 2026. The announcement comes amid Zimbabwe’s ongoing home T20I series against South Africa, who have already clinched the five-match series 4-0, and as the fourth edition of the Asian Games unfolds in Japan from 17–22 September.
The upcoming series marks a significant step forward for Zimbabwe women’s cricket, extending a busy international programme that has already seen Championship visits to New Zealand and Pakistan, along with the current home series against the Proteas. For a side striving to close the gap with established international opponents, regular exposure to high-calibre opposition is crucial.
The three ODIs, part of the ICC Women’s Championship, will be staged at Harare Sports Club on 24, 27 and 30 September. The teams will then shift to Takashinga Cricket Club for the T20I leg on 3, 5 and 7 October. The tour not only offers valuable competitive time, but also aims to raise the profile of the women’s game domestically.
“We are delighted to welcome West Indies Women to Harare for what promises to be an exciting series,” ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni said. “Regular exposure to high-quality international cricket is vital to the development of Zimbabwe Women, and playing a side of West Indies’ stature gives our players another opportunity to test their skills, learn and build the experience and confidence they need to become more competitive.”
The West Indies tour arrives as Zimbabwe wrap up a challenging T20I series against South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt. The Proteas have dominated, winning the first four matches by 6 wickets, 64 runs, and winning the 3rd and 4th T20Is by 80 runs respectively, to take an unassailable 4-0 lead with the fifth T20I scheduled for 19 September at 5 PM IST in Bulawayo. That experience against a top-tier side will serve as ideal preparation before the West Indies arrive, with Zimbabwe looking to carry lessons from the South Africa series into the ODI leg of the upcoming series.
West Indies, under Hayley Matthews, bring a wealth of experience and power to the table. Known for their explosive batting and versatile all-rounders, the Caribbean side present a stern test for Zimbabwe’s bowlers and batters alike. For Nkomo’s side, matching up against West Indies’ pace and spin variety, as well as their deep batting order, will be a measuring stick of progress since their Championship trips to New Zealand and Pakistan.
Zimbabwe vs West Indies Series Schedule
24th September 2026: 1st ODI, Harare Sports Club, 09:30 local
27th September 2026: 2nd ODI, Harare Sports Club, 09:30 local
30th September 2026: 3rd ODI, Harare Sports Club, 09:30 local
3rd October 2026: 1st T20I, Takashinga Cricket Club, 13:00 local
5th October 2026: 2nd T20I, Takashinga Cricket Club, 12:00 local
7th October 2026: 3rd T20I, Takashinga Cricket Club, 12:00 local
“This tour adds to a busy programme for our women’s team and reflects our commitment to creating more opportunities for them at international level,” Makoni added. With momentum building in the women’s game across the region, and global attention on events like the Asian Games in Japan, Zimbabwe’s landmark series against West Indies promises to be both a competitive contest and a catalyst for growth at home.
(Quotes sourced from Zimbabwe Official Press Release)
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