Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
Fresh from winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier tournament, the Lady Chevrons are now expected to turn their attention to the One-Day International (ODI) arena.
According to Zimbabwe Cricket, the women senior team will now host Ireland in a four-match series they will use to prepare for the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier 2021.
The two sides will meet in a four-match ODI series slated for October 5 to October 17 at Harare Sports Club, with the match-up being the first official ODI series for Zimbabwe women since being granted ODI status in April.
The four matches will be held on October 5, 7, 9 and 11.
This is in addition to another proposed visit by the Bangladesh women for a three-match series shortly before the two sides enter the bio-bubble for the 10-team Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier.
The series will be Bangladesh’s first international assignment since the T20 World Cup held in Australia in February to March last year.
Zimbabwe is expected to host the Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier 2021 for the 2022 World Cup expected to decide the final three spots from November 21 to December 5.
The qualifiers were originally meant to be hosted by Sri Lanka in July 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the tournament as well as the main event in New Zealand.
The ten teams, vying for the three World Cup spots, will include Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Ireland – and the five regional qualifiers who won their respective competitions in 2019.
Hosts Zimbabwe are the Africa regional qualifiers, Thailand are from Asia, Papua New Guinea represent Asia East-Pacific, the Netherlands are the European winners and the United States of America will play as Americas champions.
While the top three make it to the eight-team ODI World Cup in March-April 2022, the next two teams from the competition will also secure places in the next ICC Women’s Championship.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter