Zimbabwe to Co-host 2027 ODI World Cup
Zimbabwe has been handed a major boost, with the country set to host matches at the 2027 ODI World Cup alongside Namibia and main hosts South Africa.
In total, South Africa will stage 44 games, while Zimbabwe and Namibia will share 10 matches between them.
2027 ODI World Cup South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia Venues
In Zimbabwe, matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Namibia, co-hosting a World Cup for the first time, will use the Namibia Cricket Ground and United Ground in Windhoek.
South Africa’s matches will be spread across major cricketing hubs including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, East London and Paarl. The ICC said venues were chosen based on hotel capacity, airport access and accreditation standards, ensuring smooth logistics for teams and supporters.
Tournament Format
The 2027 World Cup will return to a 14-team format, split into two groups of seven. The top three sides from each group will progress to the Super Six stage, followed by the semifinals and final.
As hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe qualify automatically, while the top eight nations on the ICC rankings by March 31, 2027 will also gain direct entry. Namibia, however, will need to battle through the ICC qualification pathway.
A Lift After Recent Struggles
The announcement comes at a time when Zimbabwe Cricket has been under heavy fire from fans, frustrated by poor results on the field. Just last month, the Chevrons suffered a humiliating innings-and-359-run defeat to New Zealand in Bulawayo, their third-worst Test loss in history.
Hosting part of the World Cup is now being seen as both a huge opportunity and a chance to restore pride in Zimbabwean cricket.
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The post Good News for Zimbabwe Cricket Fans: World Cup Coming to Harare and Bulawayo appeared first on iHarare News.
