Josephine Nkomo returns to lead Zimbabwe against South Africa

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. After a two-year absence, experienced batter Sharne Mayers also joins the team again.

Seam-bowling all-rounder Nkomo, who has represented Zimbabwe in 69 T20I and 18 ODI matches, is set to take the helm for the first time. She was made captain, but she didn't go on the Pakistan tour. The squad also includes left-arm medium-pacer Nomvelo Sibanda, who played for Zimbabwe in Pakistan.

Mayers last played for Zimbabwe in an international match in October 2024. He has played in 33 T20Is and 13 ODIs.

Nyasha Gwanzura, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Modester Mupachikwa, Loreen Tshuma, and Loryn Phiri, all veterans, have also returned to the team.

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 five games in the series will be played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo starting on September 11. Zimbabwe and South Africa's women will be touring Zimbabwe for the first time, and the two teams have only met twice before—in 2017 during a quadrangular ODI series in South Africa. 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 (c), 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