onlinemedia
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Lady Chevrons have been dealt a crushing setback after teenage all-rounder Kelis Ndhlovu was suspended from bowling in international cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The ICC announced yesterday that the 19-year-old left-hander will not be allowed to bowl until her action is cleared through re-assessment. Ndhlovu, reported by match officials during the first One Day International against Ireland in Belfast on July 26, underwent testing in Pretoria, South Africa, where her action was deemed illegal.
“In accordance with Article 6.1 of the Bowling Regulations, Ndhlovu’s suspension shall remain in place until she submits to a re-assessment of her bowling action which confirms that she can bowl without using an illegal bowling action,” read the ICC statement.
Her ban has stunned Zimbabwe’s cricket community, with coaches and fans describing it as a massive blow to the team’s attack just days before the 2025 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Namibia from August 31 to September 6. The tournament is part of the qualification pathway to the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.
A local coach, who asked not to be named, said the suspension has robbed the Chevrons of one of their biggest match winners.
“I was surprised to hear that Kelis has been suspended from bowling in international cricket. She is a star and the Lady Chevrons’ bowling unit has suffered a huge blow. She was not just a great batter but an equally excellent bowler as well and the records are there for all to see. But there is room for re-assessment and this is not the end of the world. I am sure with the help of our coaches, she will be back to bowling soon and taking more wickets as she has been doing since she broke into the team,” said the coach.
Despite her age, Ndhlovu has already established herself among Zimbabwe’s most reliable bowlers. She has taken 63 international wickets across formats, behind only Josephine Nkomo (78), Nomvelo Sibanda (67) and Precious Marange (66).
In T20Is, she has 44 wickets in 51 matches at an average of 19.79 with best figures of 3/12.
That tally places her fourth on the country’s all-time list behind Marange (57), Nkomo (53) and Sibanda (51). In ODIs, she has 19 wickets in 13 games, second only to Nkomo’s 25, with a best return of 5/22.
Ndhlovu remains the only Lady Chevrons bowler with a five-wicket haul in ODIs. Her 5/22 against Thailand in 2023 ranks as the third-best figures in an innings by a losing player in Women’s ODIs and the joint second-best haul on ODI debut. At just 17, she became the third youngest to claim a five for in women’s ODIs.
Ironically, in the match where she was reported, she still produced 3/50 against Ireland.
Ndhlovu’s leadership credentials also shine through. She captained Zimbabwe’s Under-19 side at the inaugural ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in 2023 and has been tipped as a cornerstone of the national team’s future.
For now, though, the Lady Chevrons must prepare for the Namibia qualifiers without their star bowler.
Online Reporter