By Tendai Chisiri
HARARE — Zimbabwe will take centre stage on the global sporting map after Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls were officially confirmed as host cities for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
The announcement was made at a ceremony in Johannesburg on Thursday night, where the International Cricket Council, ICC, unveiled the host cities, venues and the official tournament brand.
Zimbabwe will co-host the 50-over World Cup alongside South Africa and Namibia — the first time the tournament returns to Africa in 24 years.
Zimbabwe’s Venues
Matches in Zimbabwe will be played at:
- Harare Sports Club, Harare
- Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
- Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, Victoria Falls
South Africa will host matches at 8 venues including Wanderers, Centurion, Newlands and Kingsmead. Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, will host games at the Namibia Cricket Ground.
Tournament Format
The 2027 edition will feature 57 matches involving 14 teams and will use a new three-stage format designed to deliver more context and competitiveness. It will be the 14th edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
This will be Zimbabwe’s second time co-hosting the event, having done so in 2003 alongside South Africa and Kenya.
“A Vote of Confidence”
Zimbabwe Cricket, ZC, Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani welcomed the announcement.
“This marks another significant milestone on our journey towards hosting the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. Having Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls confirmed as host cities is a tremendous honour for Zimbabwe and a vote of confidence in our ability to stage world-class international cricket events,” he said.
Mukuhlani added that the tournament presents an opportunity to showcase “Zimbabwe’s people, culture, hospitality and breathtaking tourism destinations to a global audience.”
ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni said preparations were progressing well.
“Beyond the cricket itself, we see the World Cup as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through infrastructure development, tourism, economic activity and inspiring the next generation of Zimbabwean cricketers,” he said.
Tournament Brand: “Three Nations, One Heartbeat”
The ICC has adopted “Three Nations, One Heartbeat” as the tournament brand, inspired by the African philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am, because we are”.
The theme “Make the Circle Bigger” will highlight unity, inclusion and cricket’s power to bring people together across cultures and borders.
Preparations are expected to ramp up over the next 18 months as Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia work with the ICC to deliver the tournament.
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