Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S women’s cricket team returned home without a single win from six matches in Pakistan, a sobering 3–0 whitewash in both the ODI and T20I series.
But for head coach Kate Ebrahim, the real scorecard won’t be the same in the upcoming year or so time.
“It has definitely been a tough tour,” said Ebrahim.
“But the exciting part is, let’s see where they are in 12 to 24 months.”
The Lady Chevrons were outclassed across the board. They conceded 300-plus totals, collapsed for 84 chasing 238 in the first T20I, and suffered a 133-run loss in the final match.
Zimbabwe batters struggled against Pakistan’s clever spin attack, and fielding in 40-degree heat exposed the gap in conditioning and experience.
Yet Ebrahim frames the tour not as a failure but as a necessary burn.
“We brought a young and inexperienced side, young in age as well. It would have been foolish to think we would come here and sweep the series,” she said.
“The girls gave their all in every game.”
The coach pointed to clear technical gaps, particularly against spin.
“Our batters’ technical and tactical understanding of how to play spin isn’t there at the moment. That’s another exciting challenge, can they improve their spin game quickly?”
Zimbabwe Cricket has set internal key performance Indicators focused on middle-over scoring rates and batting in multiples, twos and ones, not just boundaries.
“I have seen glimpses of improvement in every game,” Ebrahim said.
Perhaps most critically, the tour revealed a systemic issue: a shallow player pool.
“The selectors and officials want to grow the depth. Currently, the pool of women’s players in Zimbabwe isn’t very large,” she said.
“But we have a phenomenal group of women back home eager to play cricket.”
With a World Cup qualifier cycle looming and a tour to India scheduled for October, the Lady Chevrons have little time to close the gap. But for Ebrahim, the foundation is being laid.
“Their progress has been steady. It’s a lot for them to take in, but that’s the exciting part.”
