2027 World Cup Hosts South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia In New Competition

2027 World Cup hosts to play a new series [Source: x]

Namibia is set to host South Africa and Zimbabwe for a seven-match T20I tri-series starting later this month. The series is highly considered to be a precursor to the proposed Africa T20 Cup.

It is worth noting that all three countries set to participate in the upcoming tri-series will also host the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup together next year. 

Namibia to host T20I tri-series amid Africa Cup talks

Namibia is set to host neighbors South Africa and fellow African ICC giant Zimbabwe for a seven-match T20I tri-series. The series will be organized amid growing co-operation between the three nations as they gear up to host the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup together next year. 

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All seven matches of the series will be hosted by the Namibia Cricket Ground (NCG) in Windhoek, a ground that was opened just last year. 

Notably, the seven-match T20I tri-series is also considered to be a precursor to a proposed Africa T20 Cup. Further discussions for the proposed cup will take place in 2027. The Africa T20 Cup itself is said to be akin to the Asian Cricket Council’s Asia Cup. 

As per a Cricinfo report, the proceeds from ticket sales and television rights of the T20I tri-series will go to the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) to help nurture the game in the continent. 

South Africa to play three additional ODIs, to send understrength team

After the seven-match T20I tri-series, the South Africa cricket team will stay on in Namibia roughly for an additional week. The Proteas are schedule to play a three-match ODI series against the hosts, which will also mark the first-ever set of ODI fixtures between the two African sides. 

The report states that Cricket South Africa (CSA) is unlikely to send a full-strength South Africa side for the two white-ball series in the country. 

The CSA and the selection committee will be expected to manage the workload of their players, in lieu of South Africa’s hectic 2026-27 international season. It is worth noting that the reigning WTC winners are scheduled to play eight Test matches against teams like Australia, England and Bangladesh later this year. 

Moreover, the South Africa cricket team will also play nine ODIs and three T20Is between September and January, and most of their players will commit themselves to play a month-long SA20 2027 season in January and February. 

South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia to host World Cup 2027

South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will also collaborate to host the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup next year. Just last month, the ICC confirmed that the tournament will be played across 12 different venues, with South Africa receiving a major share with eight of those venues. 

The occasion will mark the return of the premier ODI tournament in the African continent after a gap of 24 years. Back in 2003, nations like South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya co-hosted the ODI event. 

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