Zimbabwe Cricket has appointed New Zealand coach Mark Coles as the substantive Head Coach of the Zimbabwe Senior Women’s National Team. Coles brings international high-performance experience to the role, having previously served as head coach of the Pakistan and Scotland women’s national teams. He supported Scotland’s men’s side, worked as high-performance manager at Cricket Papua New Guinea and held coaching consultancy roles in Australia. He is expected to take charge ahead of the five-match T20 International series against South Africa Women at Queens Sports Club starting on Friday.
Coles arrives at an important stage in Zimbabwe women’s cricket. Earlier this year, Zimbabwe Women made their historic debut in the ICC Women’s Championship under an interim coaching structure. They started their four-year campaign with away tours of New Zealand and Pakistan and will continue with tours of India and Bangladesh. Zimbabwe will also host South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Ireland. The ICC Women’s Championship is the qualification pathway for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2029.
Coles will have a support team around him as he begins the new role. Rangarirai Manyande has been appointed Assistant Coach (Batting), while Trevor Phiri will work as Fielding Coach and Faith Dube as Strength and Conditioning Coach. Farai Mabasa will be the Physiotherapist, Keith Kulinga the Analyst and Mary-Anne Musonda the Team Manager. At pathway level, the Board has retained Travor Garwe as Head Coach of the Zimbabwe Under-19 Women’s National Team. Garwe will be assisted by Nonhlanhla Kamuteku as Assistant Coach (Batting), Malcolm Chikuwa as Bowling Coach and Susan Kudzibatira as Team Manager.
The Board has also confirmed the Zimbabwe Women’s Selection Panel. Julia Chibhabha will remain as Convener, with Emily Jinjika and Thandowenkosi Mlilo continuing as selectors. Ishmael Senzere has joined the panel as its fourth member. The appointments provide Zimbabwe with a structure across the senior and Under-19 teams as Zimbabwe continues its ICC Women’s Championship journey. The groups will support Zimbabwe’s women’s cricket programme.
ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said the Board remains committed to a sustainable high-performance environment for women’s cricket. “Women’s cricket is entering an exciting new chapter in Zimbabwe following our admission into the ICC Women’s Championship and it is vital that we have the right people in place to guide that journey,” he said.
“Mark Coles brings extensive international coaching and high-performance experience, as well as a strong understanding of the demands of the women’s game. Together with the technical and support staff appointed across our senior and Under-19 structures, we believe he will help us build a competitive team and establish a clear pathway for sustained success. We are confident that this group will help Zimbabwe women’s cricket continue to grow and compete strongly on the international stage.”
Zimbabwe Senior Women’s National Team
Mark Coles – Head Coach
Rangarirai Manyande – Assistant Coach (Batting)
Trevor Phiri – Fielding Coach
Faith Dube – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Farai Mabasa – Physiotherapist
Keith Kulinga – Analyst
Mary-Anne Musonda – Team Manager
Zimbabwe Under-19 Women’s National Team
Travor Garwe – Head Coach
Nonhlanhla Kamuteku – Assistant Coach (Batting)
Malcolm Chikuwa – Bowling Coach
Susan Kudzibatira – Team Manager
Women’s Selection Panel
Julia Chibhabha – Convener
Emily Jinjika – Selector
Thandowenkosi Mlilo – Selector
Ishmael Senzere – Selector
With Mark Coles in place and the coaching, support and selection groups confirmed, Zimbabwe women’s cricket moves forward in the coming international programme. The senior side will continue its ICC Women’s Championship campaign. Coles’ first expected assignment will be the five-match T20 International series against South Africa Women, as Zimbabwe begins this stage with a clear coaching structure.
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