Zimbabwe to make Women's Championship debut during New Zealand tour

Zimbabwe are set to make history as their national women’s team are expected to make their debut in the ICC Women’s Championship during the white-ball tour of New Zealand. Notably, the event is scheduled to take place in February-March 2026.

This feat is a big step towards their pursuit of qualification for the Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time. The ICC Women’s Championship is the premier qualification route for the Women’s ODI World Cup.

Zimbabwe Women's inclusion has expanded the competition from 10 to 11 teams in its 2025-29 cycle. Over the next four years, all participating nations will play eight three-match ODI series, four at home and four away, with increasing points regulating qualification for the 2029 World Cup.

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Zimbabwe’s debut ODIs in the Championship will take place on March 5, 8, and 11 in Dunedin against hosts New Zealand. Before that, the two teams will also face off in three T20Is on February 25, 27, and March 1 in Hamilton, making it another first for Zimbabwe as they look to take on the White Ferns in both formats for the very first time.

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"It is a proud and exciting moment for us as Zimbabwe Women prepare to compete at the highest level of the global game. 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," Zimbabwe Cricket's (ZC) Managing Director Givemore Makoni said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Until now, the team has played Women’s ODIs against only six nations, including Full Members like Bangladesh, Ireland, and Pakistan. As part of the Championship cycle, they will host South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Ireland at home, while also travelling to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and now New Zealand.