Preparations for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 are gathering pace in Zimbabwe, with the new Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls nearing completion ahead of its first trial match.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has shifted its focus to finishing work at the venue, where the main construction work is substantially complete. The media centre, broadcast centre, changing rooms, medical facilities, grandstands and grass banks are largely finished, while roofing, seating installation and other finishing work are underway.
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ZC managing director Givemore Makoni said the project had reached an important stage, with outstanding materials delivered and the focus now on completing the remaining work.
“The main building works are as good as complete and we are now concentrating on the finishes that will bring the stadium together, with all the outstanding materials having been delivered,” said Makoni.
“When you look at the outfield and how the facilities are taking shape, there is a real sense of excitement about how close we are to playing cricket here.”
Full completion is targeted for mid-2027, when an international series is planned to test the venue more extensively ahead of the World Cup. An initial trial match will be announced in due course to assess the playing facilities and essential match-day operations.
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The progress was highlighted during a recent International Cricket Council (ICC) inspection of Zimbabwe’s three host cities: Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 tournament director Sarah Edgar welcomed the improvements across the venues, saying the upgrades were helping bring them in line with the standards required for the tournament.
We are pleased with the progress made in addressing the baseline requirements to bring the venues up to the standards necessary for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027,” said Edgar.
“The improvements to the stadiums and wider venue infrastructure are clearly evident and will help ensure the grounds are ready to host the tournament.”
Edgar also highlighted Victoria Falls as a unique destination for international cricket, offering visiting supporters an opportunity to experience the sport in a world-renowned tourist location.
Victoria Falls, in particular, is an exciting project. International fans will be in for a real treat, with the opportunity to experience international cricket at such an iconic destination,” she said.
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 Zimbabwe tournament director Hamilton Masakadza said the established grounds in Harare and Bulawayo were also being adapted to meet the requirements of the competition.
We’ve identified areas where we will adjust a little bit and tailor-make to the ICC requirements for the 2027 event,” said Masakadza.
“In Victoria Falls, there is a lot of progress and we’re all very excited about how things are looking there. In terms of the timelines as well, we’re very comfortable with what’s happening there.”
The inspection covered Takashinga Cricket Club and Harare Sports Club in Harare, the new Victoria Falls stadium, and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Takashinga is being considered as a potential venue for World Cup warm-up matches.
Selected stands at Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club will be refurbished with bucket seats, while floodlight installations are planned for Queens Sports Club and the Victoria Falls stadium ahead of the tournament.
Zimbabwe will co-host the tournament with South Africa and Namibia in October and November 2027. The 14th edition of the Cricket World Cup will feature 14 teams playing 57 matches across 12 venues.
The tournament will mark the return of the Cricket World Cup to Africa for the first time since 2003, while Namibia will host matches at the senior tournament for the first time.
Meanwhile, the ticket ballot remains open until 23:59 CAT on 21 November. Fans can register for free at tickets.cricketworldcup.com and select their preferred matches. Where demand exceeds the available allocation, successful applicants will be selected through a randomised ballot process.
No payment is required during registration.