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ZC release India tour schedule

Sport
ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) have announced the incoming tour schedule of India who will play limited-overs series in Harare next month.

ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) have announced the incoming tour schedule of India who will play limited-overs series in Harare next month.

BY KEVIN MAPASURE

India will play three one-day internationals (ODIs) as well as the same number of Twenty-20 internationals all at Harare Sports Club from June 11-22.

ZC confirmed the tour through a statement issued by managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa yesterday.

Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Elton Chigumbura (left) and India's Ajinkya Rahane shake hands at the toss, ahead of the first ODI last year
Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Elton Chigumbura (left) and India’s Ajinkya Rahane shake hands at the toss, ahead of the first ODI last year

“After finalising all the formalities with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), we are pleased to announce the incoming tour scheduled for this June,” Mukondiwa said.

The ODI series will get the tour underway, with the three 50-over matches scheduled for June 11, 13 and 15. Action will continue with the T20I matches set for June 18, 20 and 22.

The India tour to Zimbabwe has been a regular fixture on the calendar with the former touring in annually in the last few years.

Last year India visited in July and the two nations played in three ODIs and two T20s.

The hosts were whitewashed in the ODI series while the T-20 series ended in a draw.

Ajinka Rahane skippered India in their last tour of Zimbabwe while there have been changes in Zimbabwe’s captaincy after Hamilton Masakadza took over from Elton Chigumbura last year.

An India visit comes with it hefty financial benefits, but of equal importance for Zimbabwe will be results on the field where they will seek to improve on their International Cricket Council ODI rankings.

Zimbabwe are ranked number 12 in the ODI format behind two associate sides Ireland and Afghanistan on 11 and 10 respectively.

Unlike in the past, Zimbabwe will have to qualify for the 2019 World Cup and to do that they will need to break into the ODI top eight rankings.

Failure to that, they will be involved in a qualifying tournament with associate sides who have proved to pose a big threat to full members.

Afghanistan played in the World T-20 at the expense of Zimbabwe earlier this year, with the former thrashing the Dav Whatmore-coached side en route to the main tournament.

The World Cup comes with financial benefits that help sustain the game and if Zimbabwe, who are struggling to attract sponsors, fail to qualify, it would spell doom for the sport in the country.

India tour to Zimbabwe schedule: 1st ODI: June 11 2016, 2nd ODI: June 13 2016, 3rd ODI: June 15 2016, 1st T20I: June 18 2016, 2nd T20I: June 20 2016, 3rd T20I: June 22 2016