Walsh Appointed Zimbabwe’s New Bowling Coach

Former West Indies fast-bowling great Courtney Walsh has been appointed as Zimbabwe’s new bowling coach, with the legendary paceman set to begin his tenure during the upcoming limited-overs series against Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirmed Walsh’s appointment on 1 July after its board approved the decision at a meeting on 23 June. The former West Indies captain, who previously served as Bangladesh’s bowling coach, joins the Zimbabwe coaching staff as the team looks to build on its recent progress on the international stage.

Walsh will officially begin his new role with the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Bangladesh, which gets under way on 6 July. The two sides will also contest a three-match Twenty20 International series beginning on 15 July.

The appointment reunites Walsh with Bangladesh, where he enjoyed a successful spell as the national team’s bowling coach. During his time with the Tigers, he worked closely with several leading pace bowlers and played a key role in developing the country’s fast-bowling resources. His wealth of international experience is expected to strengthen Zimbabwe’s bowling unit as the side prepares for a busy international schedule.

Walsh is no stranger to Zimbabwe’s dressing room. Earlier this year, he served as a team consultant during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe impressed throughout the tournament, producing notable victories over Australia and Sri Lanka to finish top of their group before advancing to the Super Eight stage.

That achievement carried additional significance, as Zimbabwe’s place in the Super Eight also secured direct qualification for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The campaign was widely regarded as one of the team’s strongest performances in recent years and reflected the steady progress made under the current coaching set-up.

Zimbabwe Cricket has opted to retain head coach Justin Sammons, signalling confidence in the direction of the national side following its encouraging performances. The existing coaching structure will also remain largely unchanged.

Former Zimbabwe batter Dion Ebrahim will continue in his role as assistant coach, while Stuart Matsikenyeri will remain responsible for lower-order batting and fielding. Walsh’s arrival completes an experienced coaching team tasked with helping Zimbabwe consolidate its recent gains and improve its competitiveness across all formats.

The immediate focus for the team will be the white-ball series against Bangladesh. The ODI series, beginning on 6 July, will provide Walsh with his first opportunity to work directly with Zimbabwe’s bowlers in competitive international cricket before attention shifts to the three-match T20I series starting on 15 July.

Zimbabwe will enter the limited-overs contests in confident mood after registering a commanding victory over Bangladesh in the preceding one-off Test match. The hosts secured an innings-and-85-run triumph, underlining the progress they have made in both batting and bowling and giving them valuable momentum heading into the shorter formats.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history, Walsh claimed 519 Test wickets during an illustrious international career spanning nearly two decades. Renowned for his pace, discipline and sportsmanship, he has since established himself as a respected coach, sharing his expertise with international teams and emerging fast bowlers.

His appointment reflects Zimbabwe Cricket’s ambition to continue strengthening its coaching resources as the national team seeks to build on recent successes and establish itself as a more consistent force in international cricket. With an experienced support staff already in place and renewed confidence following an impressive World Cup campaign, Zimbabwe will hope Walsh’s arrival further enhances the development of its pace attack and contributes to sustained success in the years ahead.