Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
The Ireland national cricket Test team is expected to touch down at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo on Sunday ahead of their one-off Test match against the Chevrons next week.
This will mark Ireland’s first visit to the City of Kings and Queens since July 2023, when they took part in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.
However, they were last in Zimbabwe in December 2023, where they played a white-ball series against the Chevrons in Harare.
Zimbabwe are set to host Ireland for a full tour that consists of a one-off Test, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and as many T20Is.
The series gets underway with the one-off Test match, which will be played at Queens Sports Club from February 6 to 10.
Action will then move to Harare for the limited overs games with the three ODIs pencilled in for February 14, 16, and 18, while the 20-over matches will be played on February 22, 23, and 25.
Arriving in Bulawayo on Sunday, the Irish Test team will have three days of practice and rest between Monday and Wednesday before the Test match gets underway on Thursday, February 6.
Prior to their trip to Zimbabwe, the Ireland Test team — which has former Zimbabwe international Peter Joseph Moor on their books — held a four-day training camp in Dubai.
Ireland has a better record against the Chevrons across all three formats.
The two sides have faced each other once in Tests, with Ireland emerging victorious in Belfast last year.
They won that Test match by four wickets.
In ODIs, the sides have met 22 times, with Ireland winning 10 matches as compared to Zimbabwe’s eight victories.
One match ended in a tie, and three yielded no results.
In the 15 T20Is between the two sides, Ireland have registered eight wins as compared to Zimbabwe’s seven.
“After a break, since the series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi, it will be great to see us get back into action,” said Cricket Ireland national selector Andrew White in a statement.
“Since 2007, there have been some wonderful contests against Zimbabwe, and this should be no different.
“It’s exciting to have all three formats on this tour,” he said.
Gate charges for the test match are pegged at US$3 for the rest of the ground and US$5 for the grandstand.
Ireland Test Squad:
Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Morgan Topping, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
Zimbabwe Test Squad:
Craig Ervine (Captain), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Vincent Masekesa, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams.
