Zimbabwe Women Appoint Kate Ebrahim as Interim Head Coach for NZ Tour

Zimbabwe Women’s cricket team has appointed former New Zealand allrounder Kate Ebrahim as their interim head coach for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Details of the Appointment

Ebrahim’s appointment comes just in time for their inaugural ICC Women’s Championship appearance. She will be supported by Travor Phiri as the interim assistant coach and Debu Banik as the bowling consultant. Additionally, Thandolwenkosi Mlilo, a former Zimbabwe allrounder, will serve as the team manager.

Background and Context

• Ebrahim’s selection follows a disappointing performance by the previous coaching staff led by Walter Chawaguta at the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026 in Nepal.
• Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) announced that substantive appointments for the women’s technical structure would be made in the future.

Significance of the Tour

ZC managing director Givemore Makoni emphasized the need for renewed focus and accountability. He stated, “As we enter the ICC Women’s Championship for the first time, this is a significant moment for Zimbabwe Women’s cricket.”

Kate Ebrahim’s Credentials

Kate Ebrahim, who has a rich international playing background, played 31 ODIs and 39 T20Is for New Zealand between 2010 and 2021. Her intimate understanding of New Zealand conditions will be invaluable during this tour.

Interim Captain and Tour Schedule

Nomvelo Sibanda has been appointed as the interim captain for the New Zealand tour. This tour will consist of:

• Three T20 Internationals (T20Is) starting from February 25.
• Three One Day Internationals (ODIs) beginning on March 5, which will contribute to the ICC Women’s Championship standings.

Future Prospects

This tour marks Zimbabwe’s first participation in the 2025-29 ICC Women’s Championship cycle, a pathway towards qualification for the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2029. Zimbabwe has been designated as the 11th team in the ICC Women’s Championship, part of its expanded pathways initiative.

Upcoming Fixtures

According to the Future Tours Program (FTP), Zimbabwe’s cricket schedule includes traveling to New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan while hosting teams like South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Ireland in this cycle.

This restructuring aims to enhance the performance of the Zimbabwe Women’s team in the competitive landscape of international cricket.