Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has clinched rights to host the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 One Day International World Cup in 2026.
ZC yesterday announced that they had been awarded the rights together with Namibia for the age group global showpiece.
“Zimbabwe will host the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 together with neighbours Namibia, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced,” a statement from ZC read.
“The ICC confirmed the decision on Sunday after finalising the host countries for the next Under-19 men’s and women’s global events between 2024 and 2027.”
ZC board chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani expressed delight at clinching the rights.
“We are absolutely thrilled and honoured that the 2026 edition of the Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is coming to Zimbabwe,” he said.
“This is not only huge for the growth of the game in our country, but also a great opportunity to cement our status as one of the world’s premier cricket and tourist destinations.
“Come 2026, we will be ready to deliver an amazing experience.”
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The ICC said the hosts were selected via a competitive bidding process overseen by a board sub-committee chaired by Martin Snedden.
Apart from Zimbabwe and Namibia co-hosting the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, the ICC also announced the 2024 edition will be staged in Sri Lanka.
The ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 will be held in Malaysia and Thailand, while the 2027 Under-19 Women’s event will be jointly hosted by Bangladesh and Nepal.
Zimbabwe will also co-host the senior men’s World Cup with South Africa and Namibia in 2027.
Meanwhile, the ICC has approved the qualification pathway for the 10-team ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Eight teams will qualify for that event automatically comprising the top three teams from each group from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, the host Bangladesh — if not in the top three of their group — and the next highest ranked teams on the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Rankings on 27 February 2023.
The remaining two teams will be identified through the 10-team ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier.
The qualification pathway for the 14-team ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 was also decided with 10 teams gaining automatic qualification.
The 10 will comprise Zimbabwe and South Africa as Full Member hosts and the eight highest ranked teams on the ICC ODI Rankings on a date to be confirmed.
The remaining four teams will qualify via the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualifying tournament.
Zimbabwe will host the World Cup qualifiers next year.
