West Indies to play Zimbabwe

West Indies to play Zimbabwe|West Indies to play Zimbabwe
Associated Press / Gemunu Amarasinghe, File|Associated Press / Ross Setford

West Indies will play two Tests in Zimbabwe later this month.

Zimbabwe cricket officials confirmed it will host West Indies for a short tour comprising two Tests, which will be played in Bulawayo from Oct. 21-25.

This will be Zimbabwe’s first Test engagement since their tour of Sri Lanka in July.

The first Test will be played on Oct. 21, while the second one will follow from Oct. 29.

Both matches will be played at the Queens’ Sports Club. A three-day warm from Oct. 15 will precede the series opener.

Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis are both expected to make their international comebacks during the series.

Zimbabwe cricket officials say their inclusion is particularly significant because Zimbabwe will depend on them during 2019 World Cup qualifiers, which could take place in their own country next March.

West Indies, which failed automatic qualification, will be among their opponents in that tournament and Zimbabwe will perhaps use this series to gauge how they will match up.

This is West Indies second tour to Zimbabwe in the last 12 months. They featured there in a tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka, in November last year.

Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor celebrates after scoring a century while batting against India during their Cricket World Cup Pool B match in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, March 14, 2015.
Associated Press / Ross Setford