Sports Correspondent
Zimbabwe will host matches at three venues when the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup returns to Africa in 2027, with Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls set to showcase the country to the global cricketing community.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday unveiled the 12 venues for the 2027 50-over World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Zimbabwe’s three venues are Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and the new Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. The tournament is expected to see between seven and 10 matches played across the three Zimbabwean cities, while Namibia’s Windhoek will also host at least three matches.
South Africa will provide eight of the 12 venues, with matches scheduled for the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Centurion, Newlands in Cape Town, Kingsmead in Durban, St George’s Park in Gqeberha, Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl and Buffalo Park in East London.
The announcement marks a major milestone for Zimbabwe, which will once again be part of hosting cricket’s biggest 50-over tournament after sharing hosting duties with South Africa and Kenya at the 2003 World Cup.
The 2027 edition will be the first men’s ODI World Cup to be staged on African soil since 2003, bringing the global cricket spectacle back to the continent after a 24-year absence.
For Zimbabwe, the inclusion of Victoria Falls is particularly significant as the resort city prepares to host its first matches at the new international cricket stadium. The tournament is expected to provide a major boost to tourism and the local economy while giving Zimbabwean cricket fans an opportunity to watch some of the world’s leading teams on home soil.
The ICC said the tournament would celebrate the spirit of Africa, with the three host nations expected to provide a unique blend of cricket, culture and hospitality.
“The return of this prestigious tournament to Africa after 24 years is a landmark moment for cricket,” ICC said, expressing confidence that South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia would deliver an unforgettable event.
The 2027 World Cup will feature 14 teams, with South Africa and Zimbabwe assured of qualification as full-member co-hosts. Namibia, despite being a co-host, will still need to qualify for the tournament through the standard qualification pathway.
The tournament is scheduled to take place in October and November 2027 and will provide Zimbabwe with another opportunity to use a major global sporting event to promote its cricketing facilities, tourism destinations and investment potential.
The unveiling of the venues also sets the stage for a highly anticipated tournament that will bring the world’s best cricketers to Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia, with the three countries united in hosting the sport’s premier 50-over competition.
