Zimbabwe Cricket appoint Mark Coles as women's team head coach

Zimbabwe Cricket has appointed Mark Coles as the substantive head coach of the Zimbabwe women's team, the board confirmed on September 7, 2026. The appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process and takes effect immediately, with Coles set to begin duties ahead of a five-match T20I series against South Africa Women starting this Friday at Queens Sports Club.

Coles is a New Zealand coach with a substantial international record. He previously served as head coach of the Pakistan women's national team across two separate stints, from 2017 to 2019 and again in 2023, and also coached the Scotland women's team between 2021 and 2022. Beyond those roles, he has worked with the Scotland men's team, served as High Performance Manager at Cricket Papua New Guinea and held coaching consultancy positions in Australia.

Zimbabwe Cricket Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani spoke about the appointment.

"Women's cricket is entering an exciting new chapter in Zimbabwe following our admission into the ICC Women's Championship and it is vital that we have the right people in place to guide that journey. Mark Coles brings extensive international coaching and high-performance experience, as well as a strong understanding of the demands of the women's game. Together with the technical and support staff appointed across our senior and Under-19 structures, we believe he will help us build a competitive team and establish a clear pathway for sustained success. We are confident that this group will help Zimbabwe women's cricket continue to grow and compete strongly on the international stage," he was quoted as saying by ICC.

What is the context behind this appointment?

Zimbabwe women made their historic debut in the ICC Women's Championship earlier in 2026, competing under an interim coaching setup that included away assignments in New Zealand and Pakistan. The appointment of Coles as a substantive head coach represents a shift from that interim arrangement to a permanent high-performance structure as the team continues its Championship cycle.

The Women's Championship programme for Zimbabwe includes tours of India and Bangladesh, as well as home series against South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Ireland. The cycle serves as a qualification pathway to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2029, making the establishment of a settled coaching structure a priority for the board at this stage.

The selection panel overseeing the squad has also been confirmed. Julia Chibhabha will serve as Convener, with Emily Jinjika and Thandowenkosi Mlilo as selectors. Ishmael Senzere has been added as a new fourth member of the panel.

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Who makes up the support staff around Coles?

Zimbabwe Cricket has named a full technical and support structure to work alongside Coles with the senior women's team. Rangarirai Manyande has been appointed as Assistant Coach with a batting brief, while Trevor Phiri takes on the role of Fielding Coach. Faith Dube will serve as Strength and Conditioning Coach, Farai Mabasa as Physiotherapist, Keith Kulinga as Analyst and Mary-Anne Musonda as Team Manager.

The Under-19 women's setup has also been confirmed. Travor Garwe has been retained as Head Coach of the Zimbabwe Under-19 Women's National Team. He will be supported by Nonhlanhla Kamuteku as Assistant Coach with a batting focus, Malcolm Chikuwa as Bowling Coach and Susan Kudzibatira as Team Manager.