Graeme Smith Celebrates Return of Cricket World Cup to Africa After 24 Years

Excitement for the 2027 Cricket World Cup

Johannesburg, South Africa - August 4: Graeme Smith, the former captain of South Africa and an ICC Hall of Famer, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming 50-over World Cup returning to Africa after a 24-year hiatus. He emphasized that the dynamic atmosphere of the three co-hosting nations—South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia—along with their talented players and passionate fans, truly merit hosting such a prestigious event.

The last time South Africa co-hosted the tournament was in 2003, alongside Zimbabwe and Kenya. The 2027 edition will see South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia join forces once again.

Smith remarked, "It has been a long time since Africa or South Africa hosted a men's world cricket event," during a glamorous event in Johannesburg that unveiled the 12 venues for the competition.

He added, "The vibrancy of these three nations, the quality of players, and the fan base certainly deserve a world event in the game, so it is great to have it back."

Smith highlighted the Cricket World Cup's enduring significance in the global cricket landscape, despite the sport's ongoing evolution.

The 2027 tournament will mark the 14th Men's Cricket World Cup and will be the first to include 14 teams since 2015. Smith drew parallels with the recent FIFA World Cup 2026, which featured 48 teams and was a resounding success.

He stated, "We have just come off a football World Cup where you have seen a massive amount of nations compete and the cultures and the coming together of many different countries getting behind their teams."

Smith expressed hope that the expanded format would encourage more fans to travel to South Africa to experience the event firsthand.

He noted, "From a world sporting event perspective, most World Cups happen every four years. It is seen as the event to win. It has a lot more tradition and stature. I think when you get to this ODI World Cup, the intensity and fandom will be remarkable. It’s the one that everyone wants to win."

The 2027 tournament will feature an expanded roster of 14 teams, up from the 10-team format used in the last two editions.

Smith is optimistic about this growth, believing it reflects the increasing popularity of international cricket and provides more nations with the chance to compete on the world stage.

He remarked, "The fan base and the teams have improved dramatically over the last few years. We want to see cricket grow."

The prestigious tournament is set to take place across eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe, and the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, marking only the third time the event will be hosted by three nations, following 1996 and 2003.