Qondisa Ngwenya Takes Helm as CEO, Edward Khoza Named COO for 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup
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Key Takeaways
Johannesburg, March 21 (NationPress) - Qondisa Ngwenya has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the upcoming 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup, while Edward Khoza will serve as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the tournament, announced the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Saturday.
Both Ngwenya and Khoza bring extensive experience in managing high-profile events, with proven records in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. “The LOC Board is thrilled to welcome Qondisa and Edward. We anticipate their expertise will be invaluable in executing a large-scale sporting event of this nature,”
stated Trevor Manuel, Chairperson of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 LOC Board.
“They have demonstrated their capability to actualize the Board’s vision of uniting the global cricket community through the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, inspiring future generations, and establishing a lasting legacy of sport, sustainability, and social unity.”
Manuel expressed gratitude towards Cricket South Africa for its support in this process, as well as the International Cricket Council for endorsing the appointments.
The selection of Ngwenya and Khoza follows a unanimous recruitment process approved by the LOC Board, which acknowledged both candidates' readiness to lead the planning and operational management for the tournament.
The 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup will be the 14th edition of this prestigious tournament, set to take place in October and November 2027. This major event will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
This will mark the second time that South Africa and Zimbabwe have co-hosted the event, having previously done so in 2003, while Namibia will be a host venue for the first time. South Africa will stage 44 matches across eight venues, while Zimbabwe and Namibia will host the remaining 10 matches.
As co-hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe will receive automatic qualification for the tournament, along with the top eight teams in the Men’s ODI rankings as of March 31, 2027. The last four spots will be filled through a qualifying tournament. Co-host Namibia will not gain direct entry as they are not yet a full ICC member and must qualify.