England are set to revisit Zimbabwe for the first time in over twenty years in the 2027 ODI World Cup. This announcement comes as part of the tournament draw, despite both nations being placed in separate groups.
On Thursday, England were drawn in Group B alongside Bangladesh, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, plus a yet-to-be-decided qualifier. Their match against this qualifier is scheduled for October 20, 2027, in Harare, marking England’s fourth encounter of the tournament.
The engagement with Zimbabwe stems from the rekindling of bilateral cricket relations last year when England hosted a Test match at Trent Bridge in May 2025. This was their first Test meeting since 2003. Their last tour to Zimbabwe was back in November and December 2004, a period marked by political challenges under the regime of Robert Mugabe.
Political dynamics were significant in the past, as seen during the 2003 World Cup when England, led by Nasser Hussain, chose to forfeit their Harare fixture amid security concerns and government pressure from the UK. That decision led to Zimbabwe advancing to the Super Six stage, leaving England behind. Since then, their paths have crossed only once in major ICC tournaments, resulting in an English victory by 50 runs at the inaugural World T20 in 2007.
The improvement in relations was further evident in England’s participation in this year’s Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe, where they reached the final against India. Talks for England’s potential return have been ongoing, with the next Future Tours Programme from 2027 to 2031 set for final approval next month.
According to the draw, England will steer clear of facing India and Australia, at least until the Super 7 stage of the competition. The identity of their Harare opponent will emerge from the World Cup Qualifiers slated in South Africa and Namibia early next year. Teams such as West Indies, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, and Nepal are among 12 nations vying for the final two slots in the World Cup.
This upcoming fixture signifies a significant chapter in the evolving cricket relations between England and Zimbabwe, with observers keen to see how the teams will fare in this prestigious tournament.
