Zimbabwe captain Josephine Nkomo back for T20Is against South Africa

She is set to lead the team for the first time, having missed the white-ball tour of Pakistan with injury after being named captain

Zimbabwe Women captain Josephine Nkomo is back in the squad for their five-match T20I series at home against South Africa, having missed the white-ball tour of Pakistan in May through injury. Experienced batter Sharne Mayers also returns to the squad following a two-year absence.

Seam-bowling allrounder Nkomo, who has 69 T20I and 18 ODI caps, is set to lead Zimbabwe for the first time. She was named captain, but then missed the tour of Pakistan. Left-arm medium-pacer Nomvelo Sibanda, who led Zimbabwe in Pakistan, is also part of the squad.

Mayers, who has represented Zimbabwe in 13 ODIs and 33 T20Is, last played an international match in October 2024.RelatedMark Coles appointed head coach of Zimbabwe Women

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Also returning to the squad are the experienced Nyasha Gwanzura, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Modester Mupachikwa, Loreen Tshuma and Loryn Phiri.

Zimbabwe will have a fair balance of experience and youth, with the squad also comprising three Zimbabwe Under-19 players - Lorraine Pemhiwa as well as Beloved Biza and Christina Mutasa.

The series will be the first one under new head coach Mark Coles.

The series begins on September 11, and all five games will be played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. This will be the first time that South Africa women are touring Zimbabwe, and the two teams have only faced each other twice in the past - during a quadrangular ODI series in South Africa in 2017. This will also be Zimbabwe's first set of home games since a bilateral series against UAE in October 2025.

Zimbabwe squad for T20I series vs South Africa

Josephine Nkomo (capt), Beloved Biza, Kudzai Chigora, Francesca Chipare, Nyasha Gwanzura, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Tendai Makusha, Michelle Mavunga, Sharne Mayers, Modester Mupachikwa, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Christina Mutasa, Kelis Ndhlovu, Lorraine Pemhiwa, Loryn Phiri, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loreen Tshuma