Trevor Manuel Appointed Chair of 2027 Cricket World Cup Organising Committee

Trevor Manuel Takes the Helm for 2027 Cricket World Cup

Johannesburg, South Africa - On August 21, it was announced that Trevor Manuel, a former cabinet minister, has been appointed as the chair of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2027 Cricket World Cup, as reported by a leading sports news outlet.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has introduced a 15-member board that includes two provincial presidents, a CSA board member, seven independent directors, and two representatives from the South African government, alongside three CSA executives, including CEO Pholetsi Moseki.

The LOC is responsible for managing the preparations for the prestigious tournament, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Among the independent directors are notable figures such as Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, South Africa's former deputy president, and Nomfanelo Magwentshu, who previously served as the chief operating officer for the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa.

Rihan Richards, president of CSA's members council, emphasized the importance of having a diverse range of skills on the board, stating, "We intentionally included many independent members to enhance our operational capabilities from within CSA's perspective," during a press briefing in Johannesburg.

Trevor Manuel, who played a significant role in South Africa's first democratically elected parliament, has held various ministerial positions, including trade and industry, finance, and presidency. This role marks his inaugural venture into sports administration.

Reflecting on his new position, Manuel remarked, "I have engaged in numerous endeavors throughout my life, but sports administration is uncharted territory for me. Undertaking this role at this stage of my life presents its challenges. We have a strong team of independent non-executive directors, including two who were part of the LOC for the 2010 event, along with legal and financial experts, and representatives from the government. Our commitment is to South Africa and the sustainability of this initiative, which is fundamentally a nation-building effort," he stated during the press conference.

Johannes Adams from Western Province and Yunus Bobat from Kwa-Zulu Natal will serve as the provincial presidents. As part of the preparations for the 2027 World Cup, Newlands will be upgraded with new floodlights. Additionally, venues like Wanderers, SuperSport Park, and Kingsmead will utilize drop-in pitches currently under development.

2027 World Cup LOC: Trevor Manuel, Independent Chair

CSA members’ council and board appointments:

Johannes Adams, President of Western Province (non-independent)

Yunus Bobat, President of Kwa-Zulu Natal (non-independent)

Vuyani Jarana, CSA Board member (non-independent)

Ministry Appointments:

Advocate Philip October, Non-Independent Director

Unathi Matthew Tshotwana, Non-Independent Director

Independent Directors:

Herman Bosman, Independent Non-Executive Director

Nomfanelo Magwentshu, Independent Non-Executive Director

Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Independent Non-Executive Director

Ravi Naidoo, Independent Non-Executive Director

Dr. Stavros Nicolaou, Independent Non-Executive Director

Advocate Karrisha Pillay SC, Independent Non-Executive Director

CSA staff:

Pholetsi Moseki, CSA CEO

Refentse Shinners, CSA Public Affairs Executive

Tjaart van der Walt, CSA COO.