AS Zimbabwe prepares to host the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2026, the country’s young cricketers are getting a valuable chance to fine-tune their skills with a five-match Youth One-Day International (YODI) series against Ireland.
The series, which kicks off on April 3, will see the two teams clash at Harare Sports Club before moving to Takashinga Cricket Club for the final two matches. For Zimbabwe, this is a crucial part of their build-up to the global event, which they will co-host alongside Namibia.
“We’re excited to host Ireland as part of our preparations for the Under-19 World Cup,” said Zimbabwe Under-19 head coach Elton Chigumbura. “This series is crucial in helping us evaluate our players, refine our strategies, and expose the squad to competitive international cricket before the main event.”
With the World Cup featuring 16 teams, Zimbabwe has already qualified directly as a co-host, while five other teams will earn their spots through regional qualification tournaments. Chigumbura emphasized the importance of the series against Ireland in ensuring Zimbabwe fields a well-prepared team for the World Cup.
“We’ve been working hard in training, and these matches will give us a great chance to test different combinations and assess how the players handle pressure in real match situations,” he said.
“The squad is shaping up well, and we’re looking forward to some competitive cricket against Ireland.”
The upcoming series will also provide Zimbabwe’s young players with a platform to showcase their talents and stake their claims for a place in the final squad for the World Cup.
With the tournament drawing closer, Zimbabwe Cricket remains committed to providing the best possible preparations for the team to compete strongly on home soil.
The match schedule is as follows:
- April 3: 1st YODI, Harare Sports Club, 9:15 am
- April 5: 2nd YODI, Harare Sports Club, 9:15 am
- April 7: 3rd YODI, Harare Sports Club, 9:15 am
- April 10: 4th YODI, Takashinga Cricket Club, 9:15 am
- April 12: 5th YODI, Takashinga Cricket Club, 9:15 am
