India scheduled to play Zimbabwe for three ODIs in August

The Indian Cricket Team will be touring Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series next month. The dates are yet to be officially confirmed. It’s assumed that the three matches will be a part of the International Cricket Board’s One-Day Super League, which has been tentatively organised on August 18, 20 and 22 respectively.

The games will be of extreme importance for the home team as the points of the above series will count towards their qualification for the upcoming ODI World Championship. However, these matches are not as important to India, as Rohit Sharma-led “Men in Blue” had already qualified for the marque event next October.

The other six ODIs that India will play back to back this month are against England and the West Indies, but these are not part of the Super League

"We are absolutely delighted to host Team India and we look forward to a competitive and memorable ODI series," a Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) official said on Friday, July 8. As of now, all the matches are planned to be conducted at the Harare Sports Club in the capital city. The Indian Cricket Team is expected to arrive at Harare on the 15th of August.

"It's a huge opportunity for the Zimbabwe players to play against the Indian team and for the cricketing fraternity in Zimbabwe. It will create a lot of interest and opportunities amongst the youth generation to take up this game as a career. Overall, the series is very good for Zimbabwe cricket,"  said Lalchand Rajput, the former coach of the side, who has now been re-appointed as the Technical Director. The Zimbabwe team will be led by Craig Ervin and Dave Houghton will be their head coach.

The Indian team will tour the African nation for the first time in six years. The last time they visited was when former skipper MS Dhoni-led the side to play three ODIs and T20Is in the month of June-July, 2016. Although there are no shortest format games this time, as the Asia Cup is scheduled in Sri Lanka from August 27, probably the very next week.