R400m needed for Cricket WC

The most pressing issue is the installation of LED lights at the venues, a cost which could rise to R80m, says CSA boss

Cricket South Africa (CSA) could need up to R400m to prepare for the 2027 Cricket World Cup to be held in SA, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The organisation said it was reviewing the eight host venues in SA over the next fortnight, and will also request financial assistance from the government as it seeks to get venues and surrounding areas in shape to host the biggest sporting event in the country since the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

SA last hosted a men’s Cricket World Cup in 2003. The last senior ICC event to be held here was last year’s women’s T20 World Cup, a hugely successful competition even though matches were limited to just three grounds because of the SA20.

Depending on the outcome of the assessments, CSA expects to spend between R200m and R400m ahead of the World Cup. “Some of the grounds may be in need of more aid than others,” said CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki.

The main upgrades need to be completed by the end of 2026, less than a year before the first ball is bowled.

SA, Namibia and Zimbabwe will jointly host the Cup featuring 14 teams in October and November 2027. Namibia Cricket has commissioned a new stadium in Windhoek for the event, while Zimbabwe will use its two venues in Harare and Bulawayo.

SA will host the matches at eight grounds: The Wanderers, Newlands, Kingsmead, SuperSport Park, Mangaung Oval, St George’s Park, Boland Park and Buffalo Park.

Moseki said the most pressing issue is the installation of LED lights, a cost that could rise to R80m as all the stadiums need a complete floodlights overhaul. “We are having a meeting tomorrow (Monday) with those provincial unions, to review their needs and the costing,” said Moseki.

Officials from Central Gauteng, Northerns and KwaZulu-Natal said besides the need for new lights, no other major development is required as they have done much work over the past few years.

The Wanderers will be upgrading the players change-rooms, including the expansion of the dining area. Central Gauteng, one of the three profitable provincial unions, is comfortable incurring those costs.

Newlands is in need of major repair, as was evidenced by how run-down many parts of the stands were during the New Year’s Test with India. In addition to the lights, the pitch, which copped a sanction from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after that Test lasted only two days, must be relaid. “All the pitches at our grounds require major investment,” said Moseki.

“That will be the biggest challenge, because we still need to host matches in the next couple of seasons, but we are comfortable that we can come up with a plan that will allow us to do so.”

Moseki said a “lot of work can happen” while the season is on the go but accepted that the upgrades would still be tricky. SA will host Pakistan and Sri Lanka next summer, while the SA20 must also take place at six of the venues that will host World Cup matches.

Cricket SA will also be weighing up the option of using drop-in pitches at some venues. “We are still awaiting proposals, but we have seen it work in Australia, and the ICC is using it for this year’s T20 World Cup, making the pitches in Florida and then ‘shipping’ them to the venue in New York.”

The outlay is significant for an organisation that remains cash strapped and continues to have to bail out 12 provincial unions. However, income from the broadcast deal the CSA signed last year with Indian corporate Viacom 18 — along with the approximately R1.2bn made from the tour by India’s men’s team last year and the ICC stipend of R490m — have strengthened CSA’s finances.

In addition, a bid fee, normally required by the ICC for hosting events and understood to be in the region of $10m (R188m) has been written off by the global mother body. The CSA is also set to start negotiations with the SA Revenue Service to obtain tax exemption for the event, similar to that granted for the 2010 football World Cup.

“We need support from the government,” said Moseki. “This is a massive event that will generate a lot of income for the country.”

The ICC said the last men’s cricket tournament in India registered a record 1-trillion global live viewing minutes of broadcast.

Moseki confirmed that the CSA would also start conducting a huge marketing campaign to raise awareness about SA hosting the the event.

We need support from the government. This is a massive event that will generate a lot of income for the country

Pholetsi Moseki

Cricket SA CEO