Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has officially announced the schedule for Bangladesh’s upcoming multi-format tour of Zimbabwe. The tour, which includes a solitary Test match followed by three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), is set to coincide with one of the most significant events in the global sporting calendar.
In a notable scheduling coincidence, the final match of the tour—the third T20I—is slated for 19 July. This is the same date as the FIFA World Cup Final, which is scheduled to take place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. For Bangladeshi sports enthusiasts, this creates a unique situation where the national cricket team will be competing in Bulawayo simultaneously with the conclusion of the world’s premier football tournament.
Tour Itinerary and Venues
The tour will commence in the capital city, Harare, before moving to Bulawayo for the shortest format of the game. The lone Test match is scheduled to begin on 28 June.
| Date(s) | Match Type | Venue |
| 28 June – 2 July | Only Test Match | Harare |
| 6 July | 1st ODI | Harare |
| 8 July | 2nd ODI | Harare |
| 11 July | 3rd ODI | Harare |
| 15 July | 1st T20I | Bulawayo |
| 17 July | 2nd T20I | Bulawayo |
| 19 July | 3rd T20I | Bulawayo |
Historical Context and Performance
The cricketing relationship between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe is well-established. To date, the two nations have faced each other in 20 Test matches. Their most recent encounter in the longest format took place last year in Bangladesh, resulting in a 1-1 draw in a two-match series.
Bangladesh last visited Zimbabwe in July and August of 2022. During that particular tour, no Test matches were played. The home side demonstrated significant dominance in the limited-overs formats, securing 2-1 series victories in both the ODI and T20I legs held in Harare.
Significance for Zimbabwe Cricket
This series marks Zimbabwe’s first home international assignment of the current calendar year. It follows their successful campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup held earlier in February and March across India and Sri Lanka. During that tournament, Zimbabwe achieved a historic milestone by defeating major cricketing nations, including Australia and Sri Lanka, to reach the Super Eight stage for the first time.
Givemore Makoni, the Managing Director of Zimbabwe Cricket, expressed his satisfaction regarding the confirmed tour. In an official statement, he noted that the series is of “immense significance” as it brings international cricket back to Zimbabwe following the team’s exceptional performance on the world stage. He further anticipated a highly competitive and exciting series across all three formats.