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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket have confirmed Australia will make their first visit to the country in a decade when they take part in a triangular series which also involves South Africa later this year.The teams will play each other at least twice starting from August 25, with the top two after the round robin matches set to meet in the final on September 6.

All the Test matches will be played at Harare Sports Club.

Zimbabwe Cricket also announced that South Africa have agreed to a one-off Test match and three ODIs.
The Proteas will be arriving in the country earlier in August for the assignments.

A statement from the association yesterday said South Africa will be in Zimbabwe on August 5 for a month-long tour that will end with the triangular ODI series.

The Proteas’ tour will start with a Test match against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on August 9.

The Test will be followed by three ODI matches at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on August 17, 19 and 21 before South Africa and Zimbabwe return to the capital for a triangular ODI series with Australia.

The Australians last toured Zimbabwe in 2004 when they beat the hosts in all three ODIs but a breakdown of relations in the ensuing years saw them twice cancelling tour programmes.

However, the affairs have since normalised as shown in 2011 when Australia sent their A team to Zimbabwe and last year the development team made a stop-over on its way to South Africa.

ZC managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa yesterday was excited by the prospect of hosting two of the world’s top cricket nations.
The Zimbabweans will play at least seven ODIs and a Test match inside one month and ZC are hoping to benefit from the arrangement.

“We are really excited to have the opportunity to host two strong sides like Australia and South Africa at the same time.
“Our players need the high-level competition the two teams will provide, and our fans will enjoy watching the matches,” said Mukondiwa.

Zimbabwe last played competitive cricket at home last September when they engaged Pakistan in two tests, three ODIs and a two match Twenty20 series.

They had also hosted India and Bangladesh in the same year but were forced to scrap proposals to play Sri Lanka and South Africa late in the year due to financial challenges.

Schedule:

Zim v SA Test

August 9 – August 13     (Harare Sports Club)

Zim v SA ODIs (All matches at Queens Sports Club)

August 17:    1st ODI: Zimbabwe – South Africa August 19:    2nd ODI: Zimbabwe – South Africa August 21:    3rd ODI: Zimbabwe – South

Africa Triangular Series (All matches at HSC)

August 25:  1st ODI: Zimbabwe – Australia August 27:     2nd ODI: South Africa – Australia     August 29:     3rd ODI: Zimbabwe – South Africa

August 31:     4th ODI: Zimbabwe – Australia September 2:      5th ODI: South Africa – Australia September 4:     6th ODI: Zimbabwe – South Africa

September 6: – Final