Daijiworld Media Network – Johannesburg
Johannesburg, July 31: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the 12 venues that will host the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2027, to be jointly staged by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The venues were unveiled at a ceremony in Johannesburg, with eight stadiums in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and one in Namibia selected to host matches during the global tournament.
South Africa's host venues are Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, SuperSport Park in Centurion, Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, Kingsmead in Durban, St George's Park in Gqeberha, Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl and Buffalo Park in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London.
Zimbabwe will host matches at Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and the Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls, while Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek will become the country's first venue to host a senior ICC tournament.
ICC chairman Jay Shah described the announcement as a major milestone on the road to the 2027 World Cup.
"This marks an exciting milestone on the road to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027. The unveiling of the host cities and the tournament brand signals the start of a journey that will unite fans around the world and build anticipation for one of our sport's biggest global events. The return of this prestigious tournament to Africa after 24 years is a landmark moment for cricket," Shah said.
The 2027 edition will feature a new three-stage competition format aimed at enhancing competitiveness.
The tournament will begin with a Super Series, featuring the three lowest-ranked teams (12th to 14th), who will compete in a round-robin format. The winner will qualify for the main competition.
The 12-team league stage will then comprise two groups of six teams each, with 30 matches to be played. The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-performing side, will progress to the Super 7 stage.
The Super 7 phase will consist of 21 round-robin matches, after which the top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals.
ICC Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta said the tournament would not only showcase world-class cricket but also celebrate Africa's rich culture and passion for the sport.
"The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup represents the legacy and spectacle of limited-overs cricket. It also marks the return of the pinnacle event to Africa after more than two decades and will celebrate a continent defined by extraordinary people, vibrant cultures, breathtaking experiences and deep love for sport," Gupta said.
South Africa and Zimbabwe previously co-hosted the 2003 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, while Namibia will make history by hosting its first senior ICC global event.