Australia will return to Zimbabwe for the first time in eight years to play a three-match ODI series. Scheduled between September 15 and 20, the series will serve as a warm-up for the defending ODI world champions.
Australia last visited Zimbabwe for a T20I tri-series where they faced the hosts and Pakistan. Aaron Finch-led Australia lost the final to Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Pakistan by six wickets.
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The last time Australia played an ODI was in Zimbabwe in 2014 when they suffered an embarrassing defeat after being restricted to 209/9, the total the hosts managed in 48 matches.
After twelve years, Australia is set to play a three-match series in preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia.
The Zimbabwe tour will be part of a larger African engagement for Australia. The team will also travel to South Africa immediately after the ODI series where they are scheduled to play three ODIs and three Tests.
“We are delighted to welcome Australia back to Zimbabwe for what promises to be a highly competitive ODI series,” Cricket Zimbabwe CEO Givemore Makoni said in a statement on Thursday. “Preparations of this caliber are vital to our growth as a team.
“With the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup on the horizon, this tour provides invaluable preparation as we move towards hosting the tournament alongside South Africa and Namibia.”
The series offers Australia a chance to assess themselves in African conditions ahead of their title defence. There is also another layer to this competition as Australia were knocked out of the 2026 FIFA T20 World Cup by a resilient Zimbabwe team after failing to progress from the group stage.
AUSTRALIA TOUR ZIMBABWE
1st ODI: September 15, Harare, 9:30 am local time
2nd ODI: September 18, Harare, 9:30 am local time
3rd ODI: September 20, Harare, 9:30 am local time
AUSTRALIA ODI TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA
1st ODI: September 24, Durban
2nd ODI: September 27, Johannesburg
3rd ODI: September 30, Potchefstroom
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
02 Apr 2026 17:03 IST
