Twelve venues announced for Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 across three African nations
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will be hosted across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. This marks the return of the 50-over tournament to Africa after 24 years, following the 2003 edition co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. The announcement was made during a ceremony in Johannesburg, revealing eight cities in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe, and Namibia’s capital Windhoek as co-hosts.
The tournament will feature a new three-stage format comprising 57 matches, designed to enhance competitiveness and fan experience. Fans can now register their interest to receive updates on ticket sales and other information for the event.
Host Venues and Nations
South Africa will host matches at eight venues, including:
- Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg)
- Centurion (Tshwane)
- Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town)
- Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban)
- St George’s Park (Gqeberha)
- Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein)
- Boland Park (Paarl)
- Buffalo Park (KuGompo City, formerly known as East London)
Zimbabwe will feature three venues for the tournament:
- Harare Sports Club (Harare)
- Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo)
- Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium (Victoria Falls)
Namibia will host matches at the Namibia Cricket Ground in its capital, Windhoek.
The three host countries are united under the brand ‘Three Nations, One Heartbeat’, embodying a spirit of optimism, diversity, and community. The event also incorporates the African philosophy of ‘Ubuntu’, which translates to “I am, because we are,” reflecting a belief in humanity defined by compassion, kindness, and connection. This aligns with the ‘Make the Circle Bigger’ philosophy central to the tournament, aiming to bring together a wide array of cultures, 29 officially recognised languages, and diverse identities from the region.
Tournament Format and Significance
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will introduce a new three-stage format. This includes a Super Series where the teams ranked 12 to 14 will play a round-robin, with the winner advancing. Following this, a 30-match round will involve 12 teams divided into two groups of six, playing a round-robin format. The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-placed team from both groups, will progress to the Super 7 stage.
The Super 7 stage will consist of 21 round-robin matches. The top four teams from this stage will then move on to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the team that tops the Super Seven will play the fourth-placed side, while the second-placed team will take on the third-placed side.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah noted that the unveiling of host cities and the tournament brand marks an exciting milestone, building anticipation for one of cricket’s biggest global events. He expressed confidence that South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will deliver an unforgettable event, showcasing the region’s warmth, passion, and rich diversity. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta added that the tournament represents the legacy of Limited Overs Cricket and will celebrate a continent known for its vibrant cultures and deep love for sport.
The visual identity of the tournament draws inspiration from an African wire bowl, incorporating colours such as Zimbabwe Chilli, African Root, Fynbos pop, Namib Dune, Harare Dawn, and Two Oceans. This 14th edition of the event will host the world’s top 14 teams.
Previous Hosting Experience
South Africa has a history of hosting major ICC tournaments since co-hosting the 2003 Men’s Cricket World Cup. These include the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023, the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cups in 2020 and 2024, and the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023.
Zimbabwe also co-hosted the 2003 edition of the tournament. For Namibia, this will be its maiden senior ICC tournament as a host nation, although both Zimbabwe and Namibia hosted the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup earlier this year. The ceremony in Johannesburg was attended by cricketing icons including Graeme Smith, Makhaya Ntini, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, and Kagiso Rabada from South Africa, alongside Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza and Namibia’s Rudolf Jansen van Vuuren.
The tournament is set to bring together the cricketing community from across the world.
Source: icc-cricket.com
