The Cricket Bulletin: Major Talking Points | April 11, 2026

Zimbabwe women set for their first-ever Pakistan tour

Zimbabwe women are set to travel to Pakistan for the first time to play a six-match white-ball series. The teams will play three ODIs and three T20Is at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. The ODIs scheduled to be played on May 3, 6, and 9, are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-2029. The T20I matches will be played on May 12, 14, and 15 at the same venue. This will be the first time that Zimbabwe women and Pakistan women will face each other in the T20Is.

In international cricket the two teams have met only once so far in an ODI during the 2021 World Cup qualifier which Pakistan won by 114 runs. Zimbabwe started the Women’s Championship by losing all three ODIs against New Zealand by large margins. Pakistan, on the other hand, suffered a 1-2 series defeat to South Africa.

ICC to consider one-off Tests in next WTC cycle

An ICC working group led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose is expected to propose the inclusion of one-off Test series as a part of the World Test Championship from next cycle. Reportedly. The working group will suggest expansion of the number of countries playing the WTC from 9 to 12 and propose the Board of Directors to include Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland.

Ultimately, according to one official, the board will have to take call on two things. One is the viability of one-off Tests as part of the WTC and the other is the financial sustainability for the three non-WTC teams to commit to two years of Test cricket. As per reports, the ICC is now trying to reschedule their last board meeting, which was postponed because of the crisis in West Asia.

Lister replaces Clarke in New Zealand squad for Bangladesh tour

Ben Lister replaced Kristian Clarke in their ODI and T20I squad for the upcoming Bangladesh tour. Clarke was ruled out due to a hand injury that he sustained in the one-day match between New Zealand A and Sri Lanka A. Lister is expected to join the side by April 12 ahead of the ODI series that will mark his comeback to the New Zealand side after two years.

New Zealand’s tour of Bangladesh will kick off with three ODI matches scheduled to be played on April 17, 20, and 23. Then they will face each other in three T20I matches on April 27. 29, and May 2.