IT is not just the big countries of world cricket battling it out against each other at the moment.

The last time these two sides met was in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier decider in 2022 where Ireland emerged victorious by four runs to book their place at last year’s T20 World Cup.

Zimbabwe come into this series off the high of winning the T20 World Cup African Qualifier in December, while Ireland’s last series was back in August, but it was a dominant series win over the Netherlands.

For the hosts, they will led by captain Mary-Anne Musonda, but will be missing two of their key players with Josephine Nkomo and Modester Mupachikwa both forced to miss the series due to club commitments in Australia.

This however has opened up some opportunities, with 15-year-old Beloved Biza, former Under-19 star Adel Zimunu and veteran batter Pellagia Mujaji all inclusions in the squad.

Meanwhile for Ireland, it too has a mix of youth and experience. It has the young stars such as Amy Hunter and Freya Sargent who went to last year’s Under 19 World Cup, the likes of Orla Prendergast who may be young in age (21) but already has over 60 caps to her name, and the wise in age like Arlene Kelly. It will be led out by captain Laura Delany, and some of the Irish squad will only kit up for part of the series. Sarah Forbes and Jane Maguire will only play the One Day Internationals, while Louise Little and Sophie MacMahon will only play the T20s.

Zimbabwe vs Ireland Squads

Zimbabwe

Mary-Anne Musonda (C)

Kelis Ndhlovu

Beloved Biza

Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano

Adel Zimunu

Ashley Ndiraya

Nyasha Gwanzura

Loreen Tshuma

Chiyedza Dhururu (WK)

Precious Marange

Audrey Mazvishaya

Nomvelo Sibanda

Francisca Chipare

Lindokuhle Mabhera

Pellagia Mujaji

Ireland

Laura Delany (C)

Ava Canning

Alana Dalzell

Georgina Dempsey

Sarah Forbes*

Amy Hunter

Arlene Kelly

Gaby Lewis

Louise Little**

Joanna Loughran

Sophie MacMahon**

Jane Maguire*

Cara Murray

Leah Paul

Orla Prendergast

Freya Sargent

Rebecca Stokell

* ODI series only

** T20I series only

Zimbabwe vs Ireland Fixture (all start times local)

January 18 – 1st ODI – 9:15am

January 21 – 2nd ODI – 9:15am

January 23 – 3rd ODI – 9.15am

January 26 – 1st T20I – 1pm

January 28 – 2nd T20I – 1pm

January 30 – 3rd T20I – 1.00pm

February 1 – 4th T20I – 6.30pm

February 2 – 5th T20I – 6.30pm