Ireland Under-19s in Zimbabwe 2025/26

The April 2025 tour marked the first time the Ireland Under-19s side visited Zimbabwe for a dedicated series. The two teams contested a five-match Youth One-Day International series, which Zimbabwe Under-19s won four matches to one. This event served primarily as preparation for the 2026 ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, an tournament co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia. The World Cup featured sixteen international teams, with Ireland securing their place through the Europe Qualifier. The 2025 fixture provided a specific opportunity for the Irish squad to acclimatise to local playing conditions, which included early morning seam assistance and afternoon spin variations.

Ireland and Zimbabwe have a longer history in Under-19 cricket, having previously met at the World Cup level. Their encounters included a group stage defeat for Ireland in 2006 and a semi-final victory in the ninth-place play-off during the 2022 edition. More recently, the teams faced each other in South Africa in January 2024 during warm-up matches for that tournament, where Zimbabwe claimed one win. They also played a bilateral series in the West Indies between December 2021 and January 2022, resulting in a 3-1 series victory for Zimbabwe. The 2026 World Cup was ultimately won by India, who defeated England in the final match.

The 2025 series in Zimbabwe stands out as a unique logistical arrangement for the Irish team. Previously, bilateral engagements between these two nations had taken place in third countries or at global championships. This specific tour allowed the players to experience the environment directly before the main World Cup campaign. The outcome of the five-match series contributed to the preparation strategy for both sides ahead of the 2026 tournament. The series remains a distinct entry in the bilateral history between the two nations' junior sides.