According to Cricinfo, the tournament window was provisionally approved at the ICC board meeting in Ahmedabad in May, with final confirmation expected at the governing body’s annual general meeting in Edinburgh next month.
The 54-match event will mark the first ODI World Cup on African soil since the 2003 tournament, which was jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
South Africa is expected to stage the majority of the matches, with its eight venues likely to host at least 41 fixtures. Zimbabwe is set to host between eight and 10 matches, while Namibia is expected to stage three games.
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Zimbabwe’s role in the tournament has also expanded, with Victoria Falls earmarked as a third host venue alongside Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
The new Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium at Vic Falls is due for completion later this year and is expected to host domestic cricket before its official inauguration in 2027.
The tournament will return to a 14-team format after the previous two editions featured only 10 teams. The teams will be divided into two groups of seven, with the top three from each pool advancing to the Super Six stage before the semi-finals and final.
As Full Members, South Africa and Zimbabwe qualify automatically, while Namibia will have to secure its place through the qualification process.
The World Cup will also launch the ICC’s 2027-31 Future Tours Programme cycle. Discussions around the new FTP are ongoing, with the structure of the World Test Championship remaining one of the key issues under consideration.
Photo: ICC
