Zimbabwe Cricket sees the Test format as crucial to its future and despite the expense involved in hosting five-day matches is pressing ahead with playing more Tests.
“Test cricket is a key part of our strategy,” said Givemore Makoni, MD of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).
“It is expensive to host matches, but we have a young side and for the sake of our players’ development it is imperative that they play Test cricket.”
Many years of administrative strife and financial mishaps saw Zimbabwe pushed to the margins of the international game. But, increasingly, in the last few years, and with the 2027 World Cup — which they will host alongside South Africa and Namibia — a major goal, ZC has gradually made a return to the international arena via the Test format.
In 2025, they’ve actually played more Test cricket than South Africa — with the match that started in Bulawayo yesterday being their fifth Test this year, compared to three for the Proteas. “We want to play in the World Test Championship,” said Makoni.
“Every Test-playing nation should be in the competition and we’re really, really pushing for that. Zimbabwe has a long Test history, we’ve played over 100 Test matches, we see ourselves as a Test nation. It is a format that we don’t want to lose and we want to invest and keep ourselves relevant in that format.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is weighing up proposals about the structure of the World Test Championship. The current two-year cycle will continue with nine teams as previously, but Zimbabwe — along with Ireland and Afghanistan — are pushing for the WTC to be expanded. “It is important for the other member nations to see that we’re pushing to play more Tests,” said Makoni.
It is expensive to host matches, but we have a young side and for the sake of our players’ development it is imperative that they play Test cricket
— Givemore Makoni, MD of Zimbabwe Cricket
“Yes, there isn’t a lot of room [on the calendar] because of T20s, but we’re a full Mmember nation [of the ICC] and, therefore, we have to play Test cricket. It is critical for the ICC to support the smaller nations, and for other top nations to play against the smaller nations because it would be nice to see all the nations playing in the World Test Championship.”
Zimbabwe has faced both of those teams this year, losing two Tests in Bulawayo. However a three-wicket win in Bangladesh — where fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani picked up nine wickets — indicated improvement and the potential Zimbabwe has at its disposal.
After playing their first Test in England in 22 years last month, the next few weeks are crucial for Zimbabwe as they host South Africa and New Zealand for a total of four Tests. “Just having that game time, against two high quality sides, is critical for us,” said Makoni.
In addition, there’s also a triangular T20 series in Harare that will serve as an important examination of that venue’s readiness ahead of the 2027 World Cup. “There are a few tweaks that need to occur in Harare and at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, but we are ready. We’ve been co-hosts before in 2003 with South Africa,” said Makoni.
Part of those “tweaks”, he explained, may include floodlights in Bulawayo and at the new ground in Victoria Falls. “We need to see what the schedule looks like from the ICC for the World Cup, but we want to install floodlights in Bulawayo.”
The venue in Victoria Falls, still under construction, will have 10,000 seats, and is expected to be completed next year. Makoni hopes that ZC can host a few domestic matches there in September 2026 as Test events ahead of the World Cup.
The growth of the team is as vital and, in the next 18 months, Zimbabwe want a team that will not only be friendly hosts, but competitive at that tournament.
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