The Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls is edging closer to completion as preparations gather pace for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
With the main building works substantially complete, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has turned its attention to the final finishing works ahead of the venue’s first-ever trial match which will be announced in due course.
Progress at the stadium was highlighted during a recently concluded International Cricket Council (ICC) inspection of Zimbabwe’s three host cities.
The media centre, broadcast centre, changing rooms, medical facility, grandstands and grass banks are substantially complete. Roofing, the installation of bucket seats and other finishing works are now underway, with corporate gazebos also set to be installed as the main works near completion.
ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni said: “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.
“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 put the stadium through a more extensive test ahead of the World Cup.
“The initial trial match will give us an opportunity to assess the playing facilities and essential match-day operations,” Makoni continued.
Zimbabwe are ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 co-hosts along with South Africa and Namibia, with Victoria Falls joining Harare and Bulawayo as the country’s host cities.
The inspection began at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare, which is being considered as a potential venue for World Cup warm-up matches, before moving to Harare Sports Club, Victoria Falls and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Sarah Edgar, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 – ICC Tournament Director, and Hamilton Masakadza, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 – Zimbabwe Tournament Director, led the inspection and welcomed the progress across the venues.
Edgar said: “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. The improvements to the stadiums and wider venue infrastructure are clearly evident and will help ensure the grounds are ready to host the tournament.
“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. Victoria Falls is already a world-renowned tourist attraction, and bringing cricket to this remarkable setting will add another dimension to the experience for visiting fans.”
In Harare and Bulawayo, preparations involve adapting established grounds to tournament requirements that have evolved considerably since Zimbabwe last hosted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2003.
Masakadza said: “We’ve identified areas where we will adjust a little bit and tailor-make to the ICC requirements for the 2027 event.
“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.”
Selected stands at Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club will be refurbished with bucket seats. Floodlight installations are also planned for Queens Sports Club and the Victoria Falls stadium in time for the tournament.
As preparations continue, the development of Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium represents an important milestone for Zimbabwe ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, with Victoria Falls set to provide a distinctive setting for the global tournament.
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