Nkomo Returns As Zimbabwe Name 17 For First South Africa Women's Tour

Josephine Nkomo captains the Zimbabwe Women squad for a five-match T20 international series against South Africa, her first assignment since injury. Seventeen players were named on Thursday. The series starts on Friday at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. It is the first time a South Africa women's side has toured Zimbabwe.

Nkomo missed the white-ball tour of Pakistan in May. She is back for a home series that runs to 19 September, all five matches at the same ground. Laura Wolvaardt leads the tourists.

Mayers back after two years away

Sharne Mayers returns to the international side after a two-year absence. She has 33 T20 international caps. The all-rounder Nyasha Gwanzura is also recalled. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Modester Mupachikwa, Loreen Tshuma and Loryn Phiri keep their places. All four were retained from the previous squad.

Three from the Dar es Salaam qualifier

Three players come straight from the ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Dar es Salaam. Lorraine Pemhiwa captained that side. Beloved Biza and Christina Mutasa join her in the senior group. Zimbabwe went to Tanzania chasing a place at the 2027 Under-19 World Cup. Nigeria edged them out and took it instead. The three call-ups follow within a fortnight of that result.

Coles takes his first assignment

Mark Coles takes charge for the first time since his appointment as head coach. He inherits a group that mixes long-serving players with the Under-19 intake. Five matches in nine days will give him a look at most of them. A 17-player squad for five T20 internationals leaves room to rotate.

Kapp and Luus absent from the tour party

South Africa left several senior players out when the touring squad was announced in August. Marizanne Kapp, Dané van Niekerk and Suné Luus were among them. Fifteen players were picked, with uncapped names included. Head coach Mandla Mashimbyi set out the thinking at the time. "We have to expose these players as much as possible to international cricket when the opportunities present themselves," he said.

Nine days at Queens Sports Club

Every match is at the same ground in Bulawayo. There is a day off between each one. The schedule runs as follows.

• First T20I: Friday 11 September
• Second T20I: Sunday 13 September
• Third T20I: Tuesday 15 September
• Fourth T20I: Thursday 17 September
• Fifth T20I: Saturday 19 September

Play begins on Friday. The two sides have not met in a bilateral T20 international series before. Five matches in nine days will settle that quickly. Coles will have seen most of his 17 by the end of it, and Zimbabwe will know how far the Under-19 group has come.