Graeme Smith
Doha, Qatar: South Africa legend Graeme Smith thinks next year’s Men’s Cricket World Cup will be a landmark moment for the game, highlighting the tournament’s return to Africa and the prestige of the 50-over showcase.
South Africa last co-hosted the tournament in 2003, alongside Zimbabwe and Kenya. They will stage the 2027 tournament alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia.
“It’s been a long time coming since Africa or South Africa hosted a men’s world cricket event again,” Smith said on a star-studded evening in Johannesburg which marked the announcement of the 12 venues that will stage the competition.
“I think the vibrancy of these three nations, the quality of players, the fan base certainly deserves a world event in the game, so it’s great to have it back.”
Smith also underlined why the Cricket World Cup continues to hold a unique place in world cricket despite the sport’s evolving landscape.
The 2027 edition will be the 14th Men’s Cricket World Cup and the first to feature 14 teams since 2015. Smith went on to compare the success of the recently-concluded FIFA World Cup 2026, where 48 teams took part to make the event a massive success.
“We’ve just come off a football World Cup where you’ve seen a massive amount of nations compete and the cultures and the coming together of many different countries getting behind their teams,” he added.
“It’s amazing. With 14 teams now, you hope that many people decide to come and travel to South Africa and be a part of the event."
A fearless leader who epitomises grit and resilience. Graeme Smith - a pillar of South African cricket and a leader like no other. The 2027 tournament will feature 14 teams, an increase from the 10-team format at the previous two Men’s Cricket World Cups.
The marquee tournament slated for next year will be hosted across eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and the Namibia Cricket Ground in the Namibian capital city of Windhoek. It will mark only the third occasion of the tournament being staged across three host nations after 1996 and 2003. — ICC
