Justin Sammons Steps Down as Zimbabwe Men's Head Coach After Successful Tenure

Justin Sammons Resigns as Head Coach of Zimbabwe Men's Cricket Team

Harare [Zimbabwe], November 14: Justin Sammons has announced his resignation as the head coach of the Zimbabwe men's cricket team, effective after the ongoing second Test match against Afghanistan in Sharjah. His coaching journey began in June 2024 and is now coming to a close.

Sammons, who had a contract with Zimbabwe Cricket until the end of 2028, has chosen to return to South Africa to spend more time with his family, as reported by a sports news outlet.

During his leadership, Sammons played a pivotal role in revitalizing Zimbabwe's cricketing prospects across all formats. He oversaw three Test victories, including the team's first away win since 2021 against Bangladesh in Sylhet in April 2025.

Zimbabwe also achieved consecutive innings victories in their last two home Tests against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Under his guidance, Zimbabwe made notable strides in T20 cricket as well. After failing to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the team rebounded impressively, finishing eighth in this year's tournament. They remained unbeaten in the group stage, securing memorable wins against Australia, Sri Lanka, and Oman.

Givemore Makoni, the Managing Director of Zimbabwe Cricket, expressed disappointment over Sammons' resignation but acknowledged his reasons for stepping down. "It was tough for us to accept Justin's resignation, but we respect his choice to return home to his family," Makoni stated.

"Justin has dedicated himself to enhancing our players' skills, and the team's progress under his leadership was evident in several remarkable Test victories and their performance at the T20 World Cup. On behalf of Zimbabwe Cricket, I extend my gratitude to him for his commitment and wish him and his family the very best," he added.

Sammons reflected on his time with Zimbabwe as an unforgettable journey, expressing gratitude to the players, support staff, and administration for their contributions. "Leading the Zimbabwe men's national team has been an incredible experience, one that I will always cherish," he remarked.

"I am thankful to the Zimbabwe Cricket board for the opportunity to work with this team, as well as everyone involved in Zimbabwe cricket—from the administration to the ground staff—who have tirelessly supported the team's progress. Importantly, I must thank the players and technical staff for their unwavering commitment to improvement; they made my time in Zimbabwe truly memorable. However, it is now essential for me to return home to spend time with my family. I am confident that the team will continue to grow, and I wish them all the best," he concluded.

Prior to his role with Zimbabwe, Sammons had experience with various domestic teams in South Africa and was part of Cricket South Africa's high-performance unit. He also served as the national team's batting consultant from 2021 to 2023.

His final assignment will be the ongoing second Test against Afghanistan in Sharjah, after which Zimbabwe Cricket will need to find a successor.