Former New Zealand all-rounder Kate Ebrahim will guide Zimbabwe Women through their maiden ICC Women’s Championship series after being appointed interim head coach for this month’s trip to New Zealand.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirmed the move late on Thursday, unveiling an entirely temporary back-room team. Travor Phiri steps in as assistant coach, New Zealand-based Debu Banik looks after the bowlers, while ex-Zimbabwe all-rounder Thandolwenkosi Mlilo travels as team manager.
The shake-up follows January’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal, where the side underperformed. In a brief statement ZC said the previous group, led by Walter Chawaguta, were “asked to step aside following Zimbabwe Women’s disappointing performance”. Full-time appointments, the board stressed, will be announced “in due course”.
Explaining the timing, ZC managing director Givemore Makoni remarked: “We felt it was important to act decisively following the recent T20 World Cup Qualifier campaign. As we enter the ICC Women’s Championship for the first time, this is a significant moment for Zimbabwe Women’s cricket and it demands renewed focus, energy and accountability.” Makoni added: “Kate Ebrahim brings valuable international playing experience, including deep knowledge of New Zealand conditions. We believe she is well placed to guide the team during this important tour while we finalise permanent appointments.”
Ebrahim, 34, played 31 ODIs and 39 T20Is for the White Ferns between 2010 and 2021. Married to former Zimbabwe batter Dion Ebrahim, now an assistant with the men’s national side, she knows both dressing rooms well and is regarded as an astute reader of conditions.
On the field, left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda has been named interim captain, replacing the injured Mary-Anne Musonda. Sibanda’s immediate task is to marshal a largely young attack through three T20Is (from 25 February) and three ODIs (from 5 March), all in Auckland and Mount Maunganui. The 50-over matches count towards the 2025-29 Women’s Championship standings, the primary route to the 2029 World Cup.
How the Championship works
• Eleven teams, each playing eight three-match ODI series (four home, four away).
• Top five, plus hosts, reach the World Cup automatically; the rest head to a global qualifier.
For Zimbabwe the cycle includes away series in New Zealand, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, with South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Ireland due in Harare and Bulawayo.
Ebrahim’s short stint cannot fix everything overnight, and she will have barely a week with the squad before the first ball. Yet the players spoken to on Thursday sounded keen. One senior batter, not authorised to speak publicly, said the group “just want a bit of clarity and a fresh start”.
Whether the interim set-up morphs into something permanent will be clearer once the tour ends. For now, Ebrahim’s focus is simple: get Zimbabwe’s new era off the ground, preferably with a few points on the Championship table.
