Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE Women have welcomed back captain Josephine Nkomo and veteran batter Sharne Mayers for the historic five-match Twenty20 International series against South Africa Women in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) announced a 17-member squad on Thursday ahead of the series, which gets underway at Queens Sports Club on Friday.
According to ZC, the remaining matches will be played at the same venue on September 13, 15, 17 and 19.
The series will be a landmark occasion for women’s cricket in Zimbabwe as it marks the first visit by the senior South Africa Women’s side to the country.
“Nkomo returns after missing Zimbabwe Women’s white-ball tour of Pakistan in May through injury and will lead the side for the first time since being confirmed as captain,” said ZC.
Mayers, who last represented Zimbabwe two years ago, has also been recalled, while Nyasha Gwanzura returns to the national set-up.
ZC said the squad also included experienced players Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Modester Mupachikwa, Loreen Tshuma and Loryn Phiri.
There is also a youthful element to the squad, with Under-19 players Lorraine Pemhiwa, Beloved Biza and Christina Mutasa earning selection after featuring at the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 1 in Dar es Salaam last week.
The series will also mark the first assignment for newly appointed Zimbabwe Women head coach Mark Coles.
“Mark Coles’ first assignment in charge of Zimbabwe Women following his appointment this week as the substantive head coach of the national side,” said ZC.
The return home comes after Zimbabwe Women spent the past year playing their international cricket away from home.
ZC said the team last played at home when they hosted United Arab Emirates Women in a bilateral series at Queens Sports Club in September and October 2025.
Since then, they have toured New Zealand and Pakistan, among other assignments.
The upcoming series also carries historical significance, with Zimbabwe and South Africa’s senior women’s teams having met only twice previously.
According to ZC, those meetings came during an ODI quadrangular series in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in May 2017.
Zimbabwe have, however, faced South Africa Women’s Emerging side on several occasions.
The series comes at a crucial point in Zimbabwe’s rebuilding process following a disappointing campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Nepal earlier this year.
The hosts face a formidable opponent, with South Africa currently ranked fifth in the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings.
The Proteas have also finished runners-up at the past two editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
For Zimbabwe, the series provides an opportunity to test a new-look side featuring a mixture of experienced players and promising youngsters, while giving the home fans a chance to watch one of Africa’s leading women’s teams at Queens Sports Club.
Zimbabwe Women squad
Josephine Nkomo (captain), Beloved Biza, Kudzai Chigora, Francesca Chipare, Nyasha Gwanzura, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Tendai Makusha, Michelle Mavunga, Sharne Mayers, Modester Mupachikwa, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Christina Mutasa, Kelis Ndhlovu, Lorraine Pemhiwa, Loryn Phiri, Nomvelo Sibanda and Loreen Tshuma.
