Follow UsIt might be hard to believe, but come the ODI World Cup 2027, people will be able to watch international cricket matches with the great Victoria Fall against the backdrop of a 10,000-seater stadium.
All this materialised thanks to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC)’s ambitious Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium project which has reached near completion. ZC's flagship stadium will be completed at the cost of nearly 12 million US dollars, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
The board has faced stern criticism for building such a huge stadium in a town with a population of only 35,000 odd people, according to a 2022 census. However, it has continued on its dream project, which, as of the latest reports, already has main pitch planted, irrigation installed, and grass embankments completed.
Although the tournament schedule is yet to be announced, in all likelihood, Zimbabwe, who have qualified as full member co-hosts of the tournament, will get at least two stadiums allocated to them and the ZC plans to use Victoria Fall as one of them.
"Victoria Falls is our flagship project, but Zimbabwe Cricket is also investing heavily in other venues," Tavengwa Mukhulani, ZC's MD, was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
After the World Cup, Zimbabwe are aiming to recoup a lot of money from the tours by the Big 3 of Cricket and their large travelling fan armies, who would be 'excited' to watch cricket at Victoria Fall, a tourist attraction which sees at least half a mission visitors every year in the vicinity.