Chronicle EditorBrandon Moyo, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE continues to be recognised as a prime destination for hosting global sporting events, amid revelations that the country has emerged as a potential host for the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in October.
It is reported that Zimbabwe alongside the UAE are being considered to host the global event which was initially meant for Bangladesh.
However, due to unrest in Bangladesh, the ICC is looking for a neutral venue to host the global showpiece and Zimbabwe is being considered.
India are said to have ruled themselves out from hosting last week, leaving out Zimbabwe and UAE as the only other two nations in consideration.
The decision on who will host the tournament which is set to start on October 3 will be made by the ICC board today.
Zimbabwe’s interest, confirmed to online cricket publication ESPNcricinfo, comes on the back of intentions to promote the country as a destination for big cricket after successfully hosting the last two ODI World Cup Qualifiers in 2018 and 2023.
The country last hosted a World Cup in 2003, alongside South Africa and Kenya. In 2022, Zimbabwe also hosted the Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers.
The women’s national team has never competed at a World Cup (neither have the UAE’s) and will not feature at this year’s event either, even if they are selected to host.
Regardless, Zimbabwe is said to be eager to be a neutral host of the tournament.
Zimbabwe will co-host the men’s Under-19 World Cup with Namibia in 2026 and the ODI World Cup with South Africa and Namibia in 2027.
By then, the country will have two more international grounds with Zimbabwe Cricket and local government authorities working together to build multi-purpose facilities in Victoria Falls and Mutare.
For now, Zimbabwe can offer Harare Sports Club (which also has newly installed floodlights) and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo as venues for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup.
These grounds also hosted all the televised matches in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers, with streaming games held at Takashinga Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC).
The weather in the country is expected to be a major selling point, with the country entering summer in October and minimal rain expected.
India rejected the offer to host the tournament because the country will be experiencing the last of the monsoon.
Sri Lanka is also understood to have fallen out of contention for weather-related reasons.
Crucially, Zimbabwe will be able to generate fairly good crowds, as the country has shown in the previous tournaments with school children also coming through at venues.
A concern with the UAE as a venue is the lack of spectators in stadiums that can seat over 20,000 people.
Zimbabwe is also hopeful that the relatively lower cost of hosting a tournament in their country compared to the UAE will give them an advantage when the final decision is made.
Meanwhile, in another big sporting score, Zimbabwe will also host the 2024 All Africa Golf Team Championship (AAGTC) at Bulawayo Golf Club.
The AAGTC is the biggest amateur golf tournament in Africa and will attract over 20 countries. It is pencilled in for October 27 to November 2.
With the hosting of the AAGTC and the likelihood of the Women’s T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe continues to be recognised as a prime destination for global events. – @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter