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Former New Zealand allrounder Kate Ebrahim has been named interim head coach for Zimbabwe Women’s white-ball tour of New Zealand that will start next week. Ebrahim’s appointment was part of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) naming interim support staff for the tour, which will include their maiden ICC Women’s Championship appearance.
Ebrahim will be assisted by Travor Phiri as interim assistant coach, and Debu Banik of New Zealand as bowling consultant. The coaching staff also includes former Zimbabwe allrounder Thandolwenkosi Mlilo as team manager.
The interim staff replaces the previous group led by Walter Chawaguta, “who were asked to step aside following Zimbabwe Women’s disappointing performance” at the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026 in Nepal in January, a ZC statement said. It further said the “ZC Board will announce substantive appointments to the Zimbabwe Women’s technical structure in due course.”
“We felt it was important to act decisively following the recent T20 World Cup Qualifier campaign,” ZC managing director Givemore Makoni said. “As we enter the ICC Women’s Championship for the first time, this is a significant moment for Zimbabwe Women’s cricket and it demands renewed focus, energy and accountability.
“Kate Ebrahim brings valuable international playing experience, including deep knowledge of New Zealand conditions. We believe she is well placed to guide the team during this important tour while we finalise permanent appointments.”
Ebrahim is married to former Zimbabwe batter and current Zimbabwe senior men’s assistant coach Dion Ebrahim, who is with the team at the ongoing men’s T20 World Cup. She played 31 ODIs and 39 T20Is for New Zealand from 2010 to 2021.
ZC also named experienced left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda as interim captain for the New Zealand tour. The Zimbabwe team’s first appearance in the 2025-29 ICC Women’s Championship cycle will make them part of the main qualification pathway for the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2029.
Zimbabwe’s tour of New Zealand begins with three T20Is from February 25 before they play three ODIs from March 5. The ODIs will count towards the ICC Women’s Championship standings. Zimbabwe became the 11th team to be part of the ICC Women’s Championship as the pathways process expanded a few years ago.
Each team will play eight ODI series – four home and four away – of three games each in the cycle. According the Future Tours Program (FTP) Zimbabwe will travel to New Zealand, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, while hosting South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Ireland in this cycle.
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