By Zim Sport Live Writer
Bulawayo mayor and former Zimbabwe sports minister David Coltart has called for urgent improvements to Queens Sports Club and the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway after Zimbabwe was confirmed as one of the hosts for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Zimbabwe will stage matches at Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club and the new Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls as part of the tournament, which it will co-host with South Africa and Namibia.
Coltart said he hoped Zimbabwe would be ready to host the global showpiece but highlighted two areas he believes require urgent attention.
“Being a patriot I certainly hope that Zimbabwe is ready for the ICC World Cup next year,” Coltart wrote on social media.
The Bulawayo mayor said Queens Sports Club, one of Zimbabwe’s premier international cricket venues, required significant upgrades.
“It is important that we be advised what improvements are planned for Queens in the City of Bulawayo because it remains at present in a dilapidated state and doesn’t even have lights,” he said.
Coltart also raised concerns over the condition of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road, saying the route would be crucial for supporters travelling to matches in the resort city.
“The road to Victoria Falls from Bulawayo is in a shocking state and it is critical that it be finished well before the World Cup,” he said.
“Most people cannot afford to fly, and there are limited airplane seats, so this road needs to be finished if Zimbabweans, South Africans and Botswana people can travel by road to watch the matches in Victoria Falls.”
Coltart added that while stadium preparations fall within the cricket hosting programme, responsibility for the road infrastructure rests with central government rather than Zimbabwe Cricket.
Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani recently described the confirmation of Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls as host cities as “a tremendous honour” and said the tournament presented an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through infrastructure development, tourism and economic growth.
The 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be the first 50-over World Cup staged in Africa since Zimbabwe, South Africa and Kenya jointly hosted the tournament in 2003. It will also be the first time Namibia has hosted matches at a men’s Cricket World Cup.