Zim gets Under-19 World Cup preps underway

Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE CRICKET (ZC) is set to host a South Africa Under-17 team next month as part of preparations for the ICC 2026 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

The country is scheduled to co-host the junior World Cup tournament with Namibia.

And, as part of the preparations, ZC has lined up a series of friendly matches, with the first scheduled tour being a home series against South Africa Under-17 next month.

ZC general manager (cricket affairs) Dirk Viljoen said they will give international exposure to Under-17 players.

“We are now building towards the 2026 World Cup (U-19), which is a big deal for us as Zimbabwe Cricket.

“We need to make sure that we are ready. The new coaching staff will put together an Under-17 team, which will be made up of young up-and-coming players.

“What we want to do is to give these guys a lot of international cricket during the next two years,” said Viljoen.

Zimbabwe, he added, had received a number of inquiries over the possibility of a few bilateral series.

“We have had countries that have been inquiring about the possibility of touring Zimbabwe in preparation of the Under-19 World Cup,” he said.

“They want to come here and see the conditions. There are a lot of countries that haven’t been here before and have since expressed interest in touring the country.”

When Zimbabwe host South Africa next month, the two sides will play five 50-over matches in Bulawayo, while another series against Bangladesh is on the cards.

“Bangladesh have inquired, but what I can tell you is that a South Africa Under-17 team is coming here next month for five 50-over matches,” said Viljoen.

The South Africa side is expected in the country on September 18.

As part of selecting the junior national cricket team, ZC is currently having a two-week-long Under-17 tournament.

“We are having a two-week Under-17 tournament, and in that tournament, we have the U-17s playing an academy Under-23 side, too.

“The results have not been great but there is no alarm just yet. The main purpose of the tournament is to see the talent available and what we need to work on before the end of 2025.”