Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has announced that the construction of the Moses-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls is entering its final phase, as the ICC delegation concluded its inspection of the country's sporting facilities designated for the Men's ODI World Cup 2027.
ZC specified that the main construction work at Zimbabwe's newest international venue is largely complete. The media center, broadcast center, changing rooms, medical point, stands, and turf mounds are nearly ready. Work is currently underway to install the roof, mount 'bucket' style seating, and other finishing elements, with corporate pavilions also planned for installation.
In a statement, ZC Managing Director Gimmer Makoni noted: 'The major construction work is almost finished, and now we are focusing on the finishing touches that will bring the stadium together, with all missing materials having been delivered. When you look at the field and how the facilities are taking shape, there is a real excitement about how close we are to playing cricket here.'
ZC added that before achieving full readiness in mid-2027, a trial match will take place at the venue, the date of which has not yet been announced. An international tournament is scheduled around this time, which will allow for a more thorough testing of the stadium ahead of the World Cup.
The Men's ODI World Cup 2027 will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October and November. The fourteenth edition of the tournament will feature 14 teams and 57 matches across 12 venues, marking the return of the event to Africa for the first time since 2003. It will also be the first time Namibia hosts matches at this significant event.
Upon completion, Victoria Falls will join Harare and Bulawayo as a host city for Zimbabwe. The ICC delegation, led by Tournament Director Sarah Edgar and Zimbabwe Tournament Director Hamilton Masakadza, began inspections at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare, a potential venue for friendly matches, before moving to the Harare Sports Club.
Sarah Edgar stated: 'We are pleased with the progress in meeting the basic 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 overall venue infrastructure are evident and will help ensure the fields are ready for the tournament. Victoria Falls, in particular, is an exciting project. International fans will have a real treat seeing international cricket in such an iconic location. Victoria Falls is already a world-renowned tourist attraction, and adding cricket to this wonderful setting will add another dimension of experience for visiting fans.'
In Harare and Bulawayo, the focus is on modernizing existing grounds to meet the tournament's requirements, which have changed significantly since the last joint Men's ODI World Cup in Zimbabwe in 2003. Selected stands at the Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club will be renovated with 'bucket' style seating, and floodlights will be installed at the Queens Sports Club and Moses-oa-Tunya Stadium before the tournament.
Hamilton Masakadza, a former Zimbabwe captain, noted that the inspection helped clarify the necessary changes at the existing venues. He added: 'We have identified areas that we will slightly adjust and adapt according to the ICC requirements for the 2027 event. There is great progress being made in Victoria Falls, and we are all very excited about how things are going there. Regarding timelines, we are also very confident in what is happening there.'