Australia will tour Zimbabwe for the first time since July 2014. It will also be the first time that Australia will be playing T20Is in Zimbabwe. The Chevrons will host Pakistan alongside the Aussies for a T20 tri-nation series scheduled to take place at Harare Sports Club.
Australia will tour England for a 5-match ODI series and a one-off T20I game before the tri-nation tournament. With their regular coach, captain, and vice-captain out of the side after the ball-tampering row, the Kangaroos will go through a reformation process after Cricket Australia [CA] announce its male player contract on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe also had their share of hard time as they failed to qualify for the World Cup which was followed by the sacking of the team’s coaching staffs and the convener of selectors.
Pakistan, on the other hand, are enjoying their time at the pinnacle of the ICC T20I rankings. They will take on Zimbabwe in a 5-ODI series after the triangular series. The ODIs will be held at Bulawayo's Queens Sports Club.
“Following months of negotiations, we are pleased to confirm we will be hosting a T20I triangular series involving Australia and Pakistan, followed by an ODI series against Pakistan,” Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Faisal Hasnain said.
“Playing two of the game’s biggest teams will provide us with a very welcome litmus test as we forge ahead with our plans to develop a stronger Zimbabwe side capable of consistently competing and winning against the best.”
The dates of the T20I series have been confirmed on Tuesday. It will start on July 1. Six matches will be played for on six successive days before the final match on July 8. The bilateral series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will start five day later and finish on July 22.
Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Australia T20I Tri-Series Schedule
July 1, 2018: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan
July 2, 2018: Pakistan vs Australia
July 3, 2018: Australia vs Zimbabwe
July 4, 2018: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan
July 5, 2018: Pakistan vs Australia
July 6, 2018: Australia vs Zimbabwe
July 8, 2018: Final
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan ODI Series Schedule
July 13, 2018: First ODI
July 16: 2018: Second ODI
July 18, 2018: Third ODI
July 20, 2018: Fourth ODI
July 22, 2018: Fifth ODI