Story by Tichaona Kurewa
THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed satisfaction with progress on the construction of the multi-purpose Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium project in Victoria Falls.
This came out when a delegation from the cricket fraternity toured the site on Monday and expressed confidence that the project is on track to meet its milestones.
“This ground will be ready ahead of the 2027 World Cup. All Zimbabweans, especially the people of Victoria Falls, can look forward to enjoying matches at the stadium. The ICC allocates funding to member nations, and Zimbabwe Cricket will use its share to develop the stadium. Victoria Falls is a beautiful city, and fans will surely enjoy the experience here,” ICC’s Chairperson, Mr Jay Shah said.
The stadium, a flagship development within the Masuwe Special Economic Zone, is progressing well, with the main pitch nearing completion.
Substantial progress has been made on civil works and the pavilion structure is now visible.
Turf planting on the main square, including the wicket and the 30-yard area, is also almost complete.
Zimbabwe Cricket’s Chairperson, Honourable Tawengwa Mukuhlani shared optimism about the project.
“We are firmly on target to have the stadium ready for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup. We expect to host our first first-class match here around September. For the official opening, we plan to invite an international team, potentially South Africa or India for an ICC-accredited match. I am impressed with the progress.
“The most critical aspect, the pitch, is already in place. The outfield has been planted, and we now have a functional ground. What is left is the installation of ancillary facilities, including the media centre, pavilions, and corporate boxes,” Zimbabwe Cricket’s Chairperson, Hon. Tawengwa Mukuhlani said.
Zimbabwe is also preparing to co-host the 2026 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup alongside Namibia, and the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup with South Africa and Namibia.
Upon completion, the Masuwe Special Economic Zone will also feature a four-star hotel, a 5000-seater conference facility, medical tourism services, a golf estate and a shopping mall.
