The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will be hosting a bilateral series against Zimbabwe for the first time in 22 years.
After a hiatus of 22 years, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is all set to organize a bilateral series against Zimbabwe. This exciting development was officially confirmed by the governing council. The upcoming event will see Zimbabwe’s team making a journey to England in May 2025, where a special one-off Test match is scheduled from May 28 to May 31. While the precise location of the match is yet to be determined, the anticipation is palpable.
Expressing his thoughts on this significant occasion, Richard Gould, the Chief Executive Officer of ECB, shared his enthusiasm. He expressed that the English team is genuinely thrilled about hosting Zimbabwe after such an extended period of time. Moreover, he highlighted their eagerness to contribute to Zimbabwe’s cricket growth by engaging in Test matches and forging stronger connections.
This announcement indeed marks a remarkable chapter in cricket history, where two nations are rekindling their cricketing ties for a rewarding exchange on the field.
“Zimbabwe has a proud cricket history and have produced world-class players and coaches who have enriched the game across the world. We are committed to developing a closer relationship with Zimbabwe Cricket and the announcement of this Test against our England Men’s team is a step in that ambition.”
“This summer’s Ashes series showcased all that is great about Test cricket and, while we must be mindful of the demands of world cricket’s schedule, we also want to help grow Test cricket and find opportunities to play more nations where we can,” Gould was quoted as saying by ECB.
This will be a significant achievement: Makoni
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) conveyed their appreciation following the official ratification of the new arrangement by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Givemore Makoni, the managing director of ZC, expressed gratitude towards the ECB’s dedication to rekindling a powerful cricketing cooperation reminiscent of past times. Makoni also stated that Zimbabwe’s cricket is advancing steadily, and engaging with a top-tier cricketing nation will surely play a crucial role in propelling their advancement forward.
“We are absolutely delighted to be playing bilateral cricket in England for the first time in over two decades. The significance and magnitude of this tour cannot be over-emphasised, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the ECB for committing to the resumption of cricketing relations between our countries that date back to the introduction of the game in Zimbabwe in the 1890s.
“The experience of playing a Test match against a top team like England is massive for the current generation of our players, coming at a time when our game as a whole is on an upward trajectory,” Makoni mentioned.
