Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has voiced his own delight at the prospect of playing in a home World Cup as his international career draws to a close. Raza discussed the chance, reflecting on what the event means to him at this point in his playing career.
The tournament will last until November 21, 2027, with 57 matches taking place at 12 different venues. Zimbabwe will play group games in Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, while the Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls will host high-profile matches, including Zimbabwe versus India on October 24. This marks the World Cup’s return to Africa after 24 years.
Zimbabwe is excited to host matches at the new Victoria Falls arena, which is set to open in the coming months. Raza stated that the location will enable visiting teams and supporters to experience the region beyond cricket. Zimbabwe’s group stage match versus India is slated for October 24.
Zimbabwe is in Group A with India, Pakistan, Australia, and Afghanistan, with the final berth to be determined by a qualification event ahead of the World Cup.
Despite playing at home, Raza does not expect Zimbabwe to have a significant home edge.
He stated that ICC standards rigorously regulate pitch and venue characteristics, giving host nations little influence over the playing surface. During the tournament, Zimbabwe will play matches in Harare, Bulawayo, and the newly completed Victoria Falls stadium.
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Raza was asked about Zimbabwe’s prospective participation in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship cycle. He expressed significant support for such a development, saying that it would help Zimbabwe’s cricketing growth in all formats.
