Zimbabwe Begin U19 World Cup Preparations with Festive Tri-Series in Harare

Zimbabwe Cricket will launch its final preparations for the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 with a Christmas Day youth one-day international clash against Afghanistan. The match forms part of a festive-season tri-series that also includes Pakistan and will be staged in Harare.

The tournament is designed to sharpen Zimbabwe’s readiness ahead of the global event, which the country will co-host with Namibia from 15 January to 6 February 2026. With the World Cup taking place on home soil, the tri-series offers crucial match exposure and competitive conditioning for the young Chevrons.

The opening match will be played at Harare Sports Club on 25 December, with Zimbabwe taking on Afghanistan. Afghanistan will remain at the same venue for their second fixture against Pakistan on 27 December as the competition builds momentum.

Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Givemore Makoni described the tri-series as a critical phase in the team’s final build-up.

“This tri-series is a key part of our final preparations for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. Playing against strong U19 teams like Afghanistan and Pakistan will give our players the quality match experience they need ahead of a major global event on home soil,” Makoni said.

The tournament will then move to Prince Edward School on 29 December, where Zimbabwe will face Pakistan. The action will shift again to Sunrise Sports Club for the closing matches of the round-robin stage. Zimbabwe will play Afghanistan on 31 December, followed by Pakistan against Afghanistan on 2 January.

The final round-robin fixture will be held at Old Hararians Sports Club on 4 January, with Zimbabwe taking on Pakistan in what is expected to be a high-intensity contest.

Beyond player preparation, the tri-series also serves a broader purpose for Zimbabwe Cricket. Makoni said the tournament will help the organisation test its operational capacity ahead of the World Cup.

“Hosting matches across several venues allows us to test our systems and operational readiness as we prepare to co-host the U19 World Cup with Namibia. It is an important step in ensuring we deliver a successful ICC event,” he said.

With strong opposition, multiple venues, and competitive fixtures, the Christmas tri-series gives Zimbabwe’s Under-19 side a valuable platform to fine-tune skills, build confidence, and align both on-field and off-field operations ahead of one of the biggest events in youth cricket.