The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE International Cricket Council on Wednesday released the Future Tours Programme for 2018-2023 which will see Zimbabwe getting an opportunity to play against the top nations, especially in the limited overs format of the game.
Clarity and certainty is provided around all bilateral international fixtures in the FTP which incorporates all three formats of the game. ICC said as a result of a significant collective effort from the Members, with the support of the world cricket governing body, the FTP focuses on bringing more context to bilateral cricket. A World Test Championship has been created along with a 13-team men’s ODI league that will act as a qualification pathway for the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Nine top-ranked sides will participate in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship, which will run from 15 July 2019 to 30 April 2021. The sides will play six series in the two-year cycle on a home and away basis against opponents they have mutually selected. The two top-ranked sides will then progress to the June 2021 final to decide the World Test champions.
In addition, the 12 Test playing nations and the Netherlands, will participate in the 13-team ODI League, which will run from 1 May 2020 to 31 March 2022 and all the sides will play eight series over a two-year cycle on a home and away basis against mutually agreed opponents.
Zimbabwe’s opening series in the ODI League is against Australia in Australia in June 2020. This league will serve as a qualification pathway for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. India (as host) plus the seven highest-ranked sides in the ODI league as on 31 March 2022 will qualify directly for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, while the bottom five sides will get a second chance to qualify through the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Zimbabwe take on Australia and Pakistan triangular Twenty20 International series at Harare Sports Club from 1 to 6 July. From there, Pakistan will remain behind for a five-match One Day International contest against the Chevrons at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo from 13 to 22 July.
From 30 September to 14 October, Zimbabwe will be taking on South Africa in three ODIs and the same number of T20Is.
A trip to Bangladesh is waiting for the Chevrons in January where they will square off against the Tigers in three Tests and a similar number of ODIs. India is the next destination for Zimbabwe with one Test and three ODIs being part of the schedule in March 2019.
Zimbabwe have a busy schedule in the middle of 2019 with the Chevrons due to face Ireland in three ODIs and same number of T20Is in June. The following month, Zimbabwe take on Afghanistan in one Test, five ODIs and two T20Is. In October of the same year, they take on West Indies in one Test and five ODIs.
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