Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
CRICKET fever is set to grip Zimbabwe like never before, in 2027, not just because the country will co-host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, but also because Bulawayo will welcome the world for a different, deeply inspiring tournament: the third edition of the Street Child Cricket World Cup.
The exciting news was confirmed by Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart, during a stakeholder engagement meeting held last week in the Council Chambers.
He announced that the City of Kings and Queens had been selected to host the global street children’s tournament, which will run alongside the main World Cup, co-hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia.
“We have been meeting with the organisers of the World Street Children Cricket Tournament. The World Championship was last held in India, and we have been lobbying together with cricket associations for Bulawayo to be the host city in 2027,” said Coltart.
“I was advised that we have been successful and our city will now host that tournament on the sidelines of the Cricket World Cup. There are about 20 or 21 nations that take part. It draws in global media attention, major multinational sponsors and presents a great opportunity to promote Bulawayo.”
Organised by Street Child United, the inaugural Street Child Cricket World Cup took place from April 30 to May 7, 2019, in England, with matches played at Parker’s Piece in Cambridge and the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. The event brought together eight mixed gender teams of street connected youth from across the globe, combining cricket, a festival of arts and a congress on street children’s rights.
The second edition was held in Chennai, India, within the grounds of the Amir Mahal Palace. It featured 19 teams, representing both cricketing powerhouses like India, England and South Africa, and lesser known nations such as Hungary, Mexico and Rwanda.
Zimbabwe made its debut at the 2023 edition and left a strong mark, finishing as runners up after falling to Uganda in the final. Organised by the non-profit Grassroot Cricket, Zimbabwe’s team impressed throughout, going undefeated in the group stage and semi-finals, including a big win over England, before narrowly missing out on the trophy.
In 2027, they will be looking to go one better on home soil.
The Street Child Cricket World Cup is more than a tournament, it’s a platform for changing perceptions and giving a voice to the voiceless.
“These are kids that are nobodies, who are suddenly somebody,” said John Wroe, founder and CEO of Street Child United. “These are kids that are normally last, who are suddenly first. In the process of a Street Child World Cup, they just grow and grow and grow.
“We’re saying these people matter. Their voices are important. They are people just like us, but they haven’t had the same opportunities. When we first started this, we had no idea how far it could go. Street children had never travelled or met others like themselves.
