Travis Head against Zimbabwe [Source: AFP]Australia could be set for another trip to Zimbabwe before the 2027 ODI World Cup, barely a year after returning to the African country for a three-match series. The possibility emerged after Australia's recent ODI tour attracted strong crowds in Harare, while Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza urged the world's leading teams to visit more often. With the next World Cup being jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, Australia's plans could add a new chapter to their preparations leading to the mega ICC tournament.Australia to play more bilateral ODIs in Zimbabwe next yearAs per a recent report from Cricket Australia, the team is understood to have plans in place to play three more bilateral ODIs in Zimbabwe next year as part of their preparation for the 2027 World Cup.The proposed series would come after a lengthy gap between Australia's longer-format visits to Zimbabwe. The Australians had not played an ODI in the country since 2014 before their recent three-match assignment in Harare.The proposed series could also coincide with the opening of the new Victoria Falls Stadium. The $16.8 million venue is planned as a 10,000-seat stadium and is expected to host World Cup matches alongside Harare and Bulawayo.Australia's current 2026 tour has already given their players a first-hand look at conditions in Zimbabwe. They completed a 3-0 ODI sweep, but the series was far more competitive than the result suggests, with Zimbabwe posting 235, 272 and 271/8 across the three matches.Also Read- Travis Head Achieves Major Record For Australia In The Second ODI Against ZimbabweWhen can Australia's next Zimbabwe ODI tour happen?Australia's 2027 schedule leaves a few potential windows, although no dates for the Zimbabwe series have been officially confirmed.The Australian team will finish their five-Test tour of India on March 3, 2027, before playing the 150th Anniversary Test against England in Melbourne from March 11 to 15.They then have a sizeable gap before the Ashes begins in England on June 18. However, the Ashes runs until August 2, making a post-Ashes window more relevant for World Cup preparation.With the 2027 World Cup scheduled to begin on October 4, a three-match Zimbabwe ODI series could logically be placed in August or September 2027, particularly if Australia want the games to function as a direct tournament warm-up.Australia’s Zimbabwe connection might be a strategic roadmap for World Cup 2027Australia's interest in another Zimbabwe tour makes sense beyond simply adding three ODIs to the calendar.The World Cup will be played in Africa, with Zimbabwe one of the three co-hosts alongside South Africa and Namibia. Another visit would give Australia's players additional exposure to African pitches, weather, outfields and match conditions before the tournament begins.It could also help the squad fine-tune its approach to slower or less familiar conditions without the pressure of a World Cup match.At the same time, Australia would not get the same level of opposition as they would against another top-ranked World Cup contender. That makes the potential series less about testing their overall strength and more about location-specific preparation.With Australia otherwise scheduled for limited 50-over cricket before the World Cup, three matches in Zimbabwe could be a useful piece of the kangaroo’s World Cup planning.Also Read- Australia A Players Auditioning For Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs India A
