Why is Zimbabwe vs South Africa test series not part of ICC World Test Championship 2025-27?

South Africa and Zimbabwe will be clashing with each other in a two-match test series.

South Africa, the defending champions of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), are set to lock horns with the Zimbabwe Cricket Team in a test series. During South Africa’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2025, both sides will play two test matches followed by a T20I tri-series.

The first test between Zimbabwe and South Africa will commence on June 28 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. The second test match will be played at the same venue from July 6 to July 10. In the absence of injured skipper Temba Bavuma, Keshav Maharaj will lead the Proteas in the series.

On the other hand, Craig Ervine will lead Zimbabwe. Both sides last clashed in a test match in December 2017, when South Africa defeated Zimbabwe by an innings and 120 runs in a one-off test match at home.

Why is Zimbabwe vs South Africa test series not part of ICC World Test Championship 2025-27?

Notably, the ICC WTC 2025-27 cycle has already begun with bilateral series between a few teams. However, the Zimbabwe vs South Africa test series is not part of the ICC WTC 2025-27. This is because only nine nations are part of the ICC WTC and Zimbabwe are not one of the them.

The teams part of ICC WTC 2025-27 are South Africa, Australia, England, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. Each team will play six test series over the period of two years – three home series and three away series. The top two teams in the points table based on win percentage will qualify for the final.

Meanwhile, after the test series against Zimbabwe, South Africa will contest in a T20I tri-series involving Zimbabwe and New Zealand. The Proteas will commence their journey in the ICC WTC 2025-27 with a test series against Pakistan later this year.

The Proteas will clash with India, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka during the 2025-27 cycle. They crushed Australia in the final of the ICC WTC 2023-25 earlier this month to lift the ICC test mace.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.