National women’s cricket team to face Pakistan

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER almost two years without taking to the field for the Zimbabwe women’s cricket team, the girls will finally get into action when they take on their Pakistan counterparts in three one-dayers as well as two T20 matches next month.

Zimbabwe Cricket yesterday said the proposed tour, which is subject to approval from the Government of Zimbabwe due to the Covid-19 restrictions currently in place, will be held in a bio-secure bubble with no spectators allowed at the match venue.

All matches are scheduled to be played at Harare Sports Club, starting with the one-dayers on 11, 13 and 15 February while the T20 games are penciled in for 18 and 20 February.

The Mary-Anne Musonda captained team has not played international cricket since since May 2019 when they took part ICC Women’s Qualifier Africa held in Harare, a tournament they won but were not able to proceed to the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier after the country had its membership suspended by the world cricket governing body.

Both Zimbabwe and Pakistan will be using the tour as part of their preparations for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2021, a 10-team tournament that will be held in June and July.

The Pakistan senior women’s team are currently touring South Africa and agreed to stop over in Harare after Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) engaged the Pakistan Cricket Board prior to the latest Covid-19 lockdown restrictions imposed by the Government.

Meanwhile, ZC have set up regional men’s and women’s competitions that will see Northerns and Southerns sides clashing across all formats of the game. With all domestic competitions currently on hold due to the Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Government, the regional games will be held in a bio-secure bubble and will play a crucial role in preparing the national teams for important international assignments.

The Zimbabwe senior men’s national men’s team is scheduled to clash with Afghanistan next month for two Test matches and three Twenty20 Internationals likely to be played in Oman.
— @Mdawini_29