Zimbabwe cricket has declared the schedule for the home series against Windies later this month.
The Windies will tour for a two-Test series starting on 21 October at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The second Test, which set to begin on 29 October, will also be played at the same venue. The visitors will arrive in Zimbabwe on 11th October to prepare for the series playing against the Zimbabwe A in a three-day practice match beginning on 15 October at Bulawayo Athletic Club.
It will be Windies’ second tour to Zimbabwe in the last 12 months. They featured in a tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka, in November last year.
Zimbabwe will be playing against South Africa in December on the Boxing Day. Apart from the significance of playing against their African counterparts a day after the Christmas eve, the fixture may also likely have a historic undertone, as it is expected to be the first ever four-day Test match.
It is highly anticipated that batsman Brendan Taylor and seamer Kyle Jarvis will return to Zimbabwean cricket fold after leaving the country last year to pursue their English County ambitions. The convener of selectors Tatenda Taibu has held discussions with Taylor and Jarvis. The star cricketers were made assured of the new changes in the financial model by Zimbabwe Cricket MD Faisal Hasnain.
The duo’s inclusion will be very crucial for Zimbabwe, as they prepare for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers which is slated to take place on their soil next March. Windies will also feature in the tournament and will be one of Zimbabwe’s opponents in the tournament.
Windies tour to Zimbabwe fixtures:
11-13 October – Practice game vs Zimbabwe A
15-19 October – First Test vs Zimbabwe (Queens Sports Club)
29 October – 2 November – Second Test vs Zimbabwe (Queens Sports Club)