Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS the Zimbabwe senior men’s cricket team prepares for a packed 2025 Futures Tour Programme, the Chevrons coach, Justin Sammons, looks set to take a more holistic approach, with qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup being the endgame.
The Chevrons have missed out on the last two World Cups, namely the 2024 T20 contest co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States (US), and the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (One-Day International) held in India.
Their last global contest was the 2022 T20 World Cup, held in Australia, were the Chevrons managed to make it as far as the Super 12 and main tournament.
With Zimbabwe all but guaranteed participation in the 2027 Cricket World Cup by virtue of being co-hosts, alongside South Africa and Namibia, Sammons has set his sights on qualifying for the T20 version of the global showcase that will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
It is against this background that the Chevrons gaffer has welcomed the packed schedule for his charges.
Sammons believes these games will play a pivotal role in the team’s preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 World Cup, which the country will co-host with South Africa and Namibia.
“The more we play, the better we will get and the more experiences we gain,” said Sammons.
“The more learning we take on board, the better we will get, so it is hugely important that we keep playing.
“This will be crucial in terms of the buildup for the 2027 World Cup,” he said.
The Chevrons have already begun the packed schedule, albeit on a rather disappointing note as they went down to Afghanistan 2-1 in their three-match T20 series and 2-0 in the ODI segment of the Asians’ visit.
They then capped off Afghanistan’s visit with a one-nil loss in the two-match Test series.
The first, a historic Boxing Day Test, ended in a draw.
Now, Zimbabwe are expected to host Ireland early next month in a full series that will include three T20 internationals, three ODI matches and a one-off Test.
After the Ireland series, Zimbabwe are set to travel to Bangladesh for the white-ball series.
The Bangladesh series will be followed by a historic one-off Test series against The Three Lions in England.
Next will be a visit by South Africa, which will be their first in eight years, and then a two-Test series against New Zealand.
Zimbabwe will then host the 2026 T20 World Cup Sub-Region Qualifiers.
The Sub-Region Qualifiers, set for September, are part of Zimbabwe’s route to India and Sri-Lanka for the global showcase.
“I am extremely happy to have as much international cricket as we do,” added the Chevrons’ gaffer.
“The main objective this year is to qualify for the T20 World Cup in 2026.
“We have the qualifiers, towards the back end of the year, so that for me is very important.
“Building a stable, consistent T20 team is key to that (qualifying for 2026 World Cup).
“There has been consistency in our T20 selection, and the performances have been decent, coupled with some good wins,” he noted.
He said preparations for the qualifiers start now with the impending visit by the Irish team.
Zimbabwe and Ireland have only faced each other once in Test cricket, a match that took place in Belfast last year.
The hosts, Ireland, won the match by four wickets.
Zimbabwe last hosted Ireland in late 2023 for six white-ball fixtures.
They lost the T20Is 2-1 and the ODIs 2-0.
Their upcoming match starts on February 6 with a Test match at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, after which the series will move to the capital for three-match T20 and ODI duels.
The ODIs are slated for February 14, 16 and 18, while the T20s will be held on February 22, 23 and 25.
IRELAND SQUADS
Test: Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Peter Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Morgan Topping, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
ODI: Paul Stirling (capt), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Morgan Topping, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
T20I: Paul Stirling (capt), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.
