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Why Are India, Zimbabwe Women’s Players Wearing Black Armbands In 1st T20I?

Kaushik Kashyap

India Captain Smriti Mandhana. [Source - BCCI Women/X]India Captain Smriti Mandhana. [Source - BCCI Women/X]

India Women are taking on Zimbabwe Women in the first T20I in Raipur. The three-match T20I series is underway on Friday, with players from both teams wearing black armbands.

The gesture is understood to be a tribute to former Zimbabwean cricketer and umpire Sarah Dambanevana, who passed away recently.

India and Zimbabwe Women’s Players Pay Tribute to Late Sarah Dambanevana

Sarah Dambanevana, a former Zimbabwean cricketer and umpire, passed away in Harare on October 12, 2026. She was 36, with Zimbabwe Cricket confirming her death through an official press release.

Dambanevana represented Zimbabwe as a fast bowler between 2009 and 2014 before becoming an umpire in September 2023. She was also part of the historic all-female match officials panel at the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

According to Zimbabwe Cricket, Dambanevana had been hospitalised since undergoing a medical procedure in March. Her journey from representing Zimbabwe as a player to becoming an umpire left a lasting legacy in women's cricket.

Her passing prompted the tribute during the first T20I between India Women and Zimbabwe Women in Raipur, with players from both teams wearing black armbands to honour her memory.

Sarah Dambanevana Honoured With Two-Minute Silence Before IND-W vs ZIM-W 1st T20I

A two-minute silence was observed before the start of play in the first T20I between India and Zimbabwe Women in Raipur to honour late Zimbabwean cricketer and umpire Sarah Dambanevana.

Umpires and match officials had also worn black armbands during the fourth T20I between India and West Indies in Hyderabad to pay tribute to Dambanevana following her death earlier this week.

The ongoing Zimbabwe Women tour of India features three T20Is, with India opting to bowl first in the 1st T20I of the three-match series. The teams will then contest a three-match ODI series in Vadodara, starting on October 23.