Lady Chevrons to make ICC Women’s Championship debut in New Zealand

By Tendai Chisiri

Zimbabwe Women will make their historic debut in the ICC Women’s Championship when they tour New Zealand for a white-ball series early next year.

The landmark tour will see Zimbabwe Women face New Zealand Women in three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), scheduled for 5, 8, and 11 March 2026 at the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin.

These matches form part of the 2025-2029 cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship.

Before the ODIs, the two sides will contest a three-match T20 International series on 25 and 27 February and 1 March at Seddon Park in Hamilton, giving the tourists a valuable opportunity to acclimatise to New Zealand conditions ahead of their ICC Women’s Championship debut.

Zimbabwe Women were included in the prestigious global competition for the first time following its expansion from 10 to 11 teams in November 2024.

Now in its fourth edition, the ICC Women’s Championship is the primary qualification pathway to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2029.

Under the 2025-2029 cycle, each of the 11 participating teams will play eight three-match ODI series – four at home and four away – against selected opponents.

According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, Zimbabwe Women will travel to play New Zealand Women, India Women, Bangladesh Women and Pakistan Women, while hosting South Africa Women, West Indies Women, Sri Lanka Women and Ireland Women.

Zimbabwe Women’s inclusion in the championship marks a major milestone for the country’s women’s cricket programme and underscores the team’s growing stature on the international stage.

“It is a proud and exciting moment for us as Zimbabwe Women prepare to compete at the highest level of the global game,” Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Givemore Makoni said.

“This is not only a testament to how far our women’s cricket has come, but also a strong endorsement of our vision and investment in developing the women’s game.”

Makoni added that making their debut in the ICC Women’s Championship would inspire more girls and young women across Zimbabwe to take up the sport.

“Being part of such a prestigious competition provides our players with a platform to grow, compete and ultimately qualify for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup,” he said.

“The exposure to top-level cricket, including this inaugural tour to New Zealand, will accelerate our progress and strengthen our global competitiveness.”