Zimbabwe legend Musonda announces retirement 

Zimbabwe Women’s captain Mary-Anne Musonda on Monday, April 27, announced her retirement from all forms of cricket.

The 34-year-old, who last represented the national team at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Qualifier two years ago, explained the line of reasoning that led to her decision.

“From the outside it might seem like there’s still more left in the tank – and, in many ways, there is,” Musonda was quoted in a statement released by Zimbabwe Cricket.

“But this decision wasn’t only about performance or ability. It was a combination of timing, perspective and physical reality.

“At 34, I became more aware that it wasn’t just about whether I could keep playing, but whether it was sustainable to keep asking my body to operate at that level over and over again.

“My role in developing the women’s game, mentoring younger players and contributing to cricket in Zimbabwe in a broader sense has become just as important to me as playing . . . it became clearer that this is the right moment to step aside from international cricket,” she added.

Having made her debut for the national team back in 2019, Musonda went on to feature in 58 T20Is and 16 ODIs for Zimbabwe.

She amassed a total of 1054 T20I and 336 ODI runs. This included her ODI century against Ireland in 2021, which marked the first-ever triple digit score for Zimbabwe Women in ODIs.

Mary-Anne Musonda of Zimbabwe at the toss ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024 match between Zimbabwe and Vanuatu // Getty Images

However, Musonda’s role in Zimbabwe cricket dates back to even before the team earned international status.

Having been appointed as captain in 2018, the stalwart conceded the immense responsibility she had to take women’s cricket in Zimbabwe forward.

“Captaining Zimbabwe Women meant carrying more than results. It meant carrying the hopes of a growing game,” she said.

“We weren’t just playing matches, we were helping lay a foundation for the next generation, where every performance mattered in shifting perceptions and opening doors.

“It wasn’t just the captaincy title – it was everything it represented . . . it felt like all those quiet battles had come full circle. More than personal achievement, it meant something bigger.”

Opening up on what she believes the impact of her time with Zimbabwe Women means, Musonda said, “The legacy I hope to leave behind goes beyond records or milestones.

“It’s about impact. If years from now, more girls are playing cricket in schools and more pathways exist, then that, to me, is the real legacy.”