Former South Africa captain and ICC Hall of Famer Graeme Smith has backed the return of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup to Africa as a long-overdue milestone, asserting that the continent's cricketing culture, player quality, and fan base make it a deserving host for a global event. The tournament brand and venues were unveiled at a star-studded ceremony in Johannesburg on 4 August.

A 24-Year Wait Ends

South Africa last co-hosted the Men's Cricket World Cup in 2003, alongside Zimbabwe and Kenya. The 2027 edition will again be a joint venture — this time between South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia — making it only the third Men's Cricket World Cup staged across three host nations, after the 1996 and 2003 editions.

'It's been a long time coming since Africa or South Africa hosted a men's world cricket event again. I think the vibrancy of these three nations, the quality of players, the fan base certainly deserve a world event in the game, so it's great to have it back,' Smith said.

12 Venues Across Three Nations

The 2027 tournament will be played across 12 venues — eight in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe, and the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The spread of venues signals a deliberate effort to use the tournament as a vehicle for cricket's growth across the African continent, not just its most established market.

Expanded to 14 Teams

The 2027 edition will be the 14th Men's Cricket World Cup and the first since 2015 to feature 14 teams, marking a significant expansion from the 10-team format used in the previous two editions. Smith drew a parallel with the recently concluded FIFA World Cup 2026, which featured 48 nations, to underline the appeal of a broader field.

'We've just come off a football World Cup where you've seen a massive amount of nations compete and the cultures and the coming together of many different countries getting behind their teams. It's amazing. With 14 teams now, you hope that many people decide to come and travel to South Africa and be a part of the event,' Smith said.

The Enduring Pull of the ODI World Cup

Smith also addressed the tournament's stature in an era where T20 cricket and franchise leagues have reshaped the sport's landscape. He argued that the ODI World Cup retains a unique prestige rooted in tradition and the four-year cycle that sets it apart from other formats.

'I think still when you get to this ODI World Cup it's going to be intense, the fandom is going to be great. I think it's the one that everyone wants to get their hands on,' he said. Smith added that the expanded format reflects the 'dramatic' improvement in associate and emerging cricket nations over recent years, and that the sport's growth on the continent makes the timing of the return apt.

With the tournament still two years away, attention will now turn to infrastructure readiness across all three host nations, particularly Namibia, which will be making its debut as a Men's Cricket World Cup host.