2023-2031 FTP news, updates, etc

There really should be a strict test home and away schedule.

Some allowances and tweaks, such as ashes etc at the expense of a 2nd tester against Zim or Ireland.

But this prizefight exhibitionism doesn’t make sense.

secretzimbo wrote: ↑Tue May 14, 2024 2:16 pm

Zimbabwe ‘A’ playing two one dayers against Jersey national team in Yorkshire on 1st and 2nd of August

Only other confirmed fixture I know of is a match against Kent 2nd XI at Beckenham on 17th July.

Not sure if anything else is confirmed yet for this A/U25 tour.

Update:

Zimbabwe ‘A’ tour of England:

July 17th: OD Match Vs Kent 2ndXI, Beckenham

July 18th: OD Match Vs Lancashire 2ndXI, Liverpool

July 30th: OD Match Vs Worcestershire 2ndXI, Kidderminster

August 1st: OD Match Vs Jersey, New Farnley

August 2nd: OD Match Vs Jersey, New Farnley

August 20th-22nd: 3-Day Match Vs Notts 2ndXI, Nottingham

September 3rd-6th: 3-Day Match Vs Middlesex 2ndXI, Merchant Taylor’s

I’m sure there is more. Will update as I find out.

At least that's something good for the players.

Zimbabwe hang in there in 12th place after the first three games of the tri series (3rd game abandoned), three rating points clear of all three - Namibia, Netherlands and Scotland.

If Netherlands or Scotland do not close the gap in the next three games, then I guess it could be difficult for them to move ahead of Zimbabwe at the WC.

The team I think is most likely to cause upsets at the T20 WC is Netherlands. I can't really see Scotland or Namibia causing big upsets.

The tri series could not have gone better from Zimbabwe's perspective in terms of results.

It is almost certain now that Scotland, Netherlands, Namibia will have to make the Super 8s to be able to topple Zimbabwe on Rankings.

Unless an associate nation makes the Super 8s, I think Zimbabwe will qualify directly for the 2026 T20 WC.

Pat_Bee wrote: ↑Fri May 24, 2024 1:49 pm

Oh, something will go wrong 😂 it always does. All three of them will make the super 8’s or something crazy.

Yup! Possible. Something always goes wrong at the last minute when it comes to Zimbabwe and QC Qualification!

Pat_Bee wrote: ↑Fri May 24, 2024 1:49 pm

Oh, something will go wrong 😂 it always does. All three of them will make the super 8’s or something crazy.

None of them need to make the Super 8s. One of them just has to get enough wins to sneak past ZIM into 12th place. Don’t think Namibia can. Scotland have a shot, but unlikely unless they beat England, which is of course possible esp if England shows up with their form from 8 months ago.

Best bet is on NED. They’re grouped with SA, who they’ve beaten in two consecutive WCs now. They could very well beat a mediocre Sri Lanka as well. And on current form, they are favorites to beat Banghanistan as well.

Upcoming:

July 2024: 5 T20Is at home to India

July-August 2024: 'A'/U25 tour to England - at least 10 fixtures.

August 2024: 1 Test away to Ireland

November 2024: 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Pakistan

December 2024: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Afghanistan

January 2025: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Ireland

March 2025: 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is away to Bangladesh

May 2025: 1 Test away to England

June 2025: 2 Tests at home to South Africa

July 2025: T20I Tri-series at home to South Africa and New Zealand

Jul/Aug 2025: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs at home to New Zealand

September 2025: 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Sri Lanka

November 2025: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Afghanistan

No. We are heading to Africa Qualifier again.

The amusing thing is if we hadn't have been so precious about status and had agreed for our games at the recent Africa Games to have full T20I status, we would have *just* got enough points from those and been in the top 12 now. Massive own goal by ZC.

secretzimbo wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2024 10:35 am

Upcoming:

July 2024: 5 T20Is at home to India

July-August 2024: 'A'/U25 tour to England - at least 10 fixtures.

August 2024: 1 Test away to Ireland

November 2024: 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Pakistan

December 2024: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Afghanistan

January 2025: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Ireland

March 2025: 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is away to Bangladesh

May 2025: 1 Test away to England

June 2025: 2 Tests at home to South Africa

July 2025: T20I Tri-series at home to South Africa and New Zealand

Jul/Aug 2025: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs at home to New Zealand

September 2025: 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Sri Lanka

November 2025: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is at home to Afghanistan

Nothing from August to October then?

If the above schedule materializes then Zimbabwe will have an excellent schedule for the first time in ages from Nov 2024 through 2025, add to that th Africa qualifiers as well. However I'll never be sure until it happens.

Home series against Pakistan confirmed

Pakistan will tour Zimbabwe later this year for a limited-overs series in November and December, for three T20Is and three ODIs announced Zimbabwe Cricket. The Queens Sports Club will host all the matches of the series in Bulawayo.

The ODI leg shall kick off the series which will be held on 24, 26 and 28 November while the T20Is shall be hosted on 1, 3 and 5 December.

The sub-continent nation had last toured Zimbabwe in 2020-21 where they won the T20I series 2-1 and comprehensively won the test series as well by a margin of 2-0. The ODI leg of the tour could be seen as decent preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy proposed to be held in Pakistan early next year in February and March.

I'm reading that Zimbabwe will have to play the Sub Regional Qualifiers in October in Kenya. They will not be directly a part of main Qualifiers as they didn't make the T20 WC this time. So will have to go through the Sub Regionals.

Well, that's quite embarrassing indeed.