Zimbabwe will end a 12-year wait to play in the Men’s Cricket World Cup when they face Qualifier-A at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday, 9 October 2027.

The match will mark the co-hosts’ return to the global 50-over showpiece, giving local fans their first taste of World Cup cricket since the 2015 edition.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially launched the tournament schedule on Tuesday during a grand ceremony in Cape Town at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.

The launch signalled the start of a one-year countdown to the 14-team competition and coincided with the opening of the global ticket ballot.

Under the theme “Three Nations, One Heartbeat”, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will jointly stage the event, aiming to use cricket as a unifying force.

The tournament will run from 2 October to 21 November 2027, with 57 matches spread across 12 venues in the three host nations.

The competition will begin with a headline clash between defending champions Australia and 2023 finalists India on 7 October at Newlands in Cape Town.

On 8 October, Afghanistan will meet Pakistan in Centurion, while England will take on Bangladesh in Windhoek, Namibia.

The following day, Zimbabwe will step onto the World Cup stage in Bulawayo, while on the same day South Africa launch their campaign against New Zealand at Newlands.

The opening weekend will peak on Sunday, 10 October, when India and Pakistan renew their fierce rivalry at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, while Sri Lanka begin their campaign against Qualifier-B in Windhoek.

Zimbabwe will also create a historic moment later in the competition when they host India at the Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium near Victoria Falls for Match 33.

The semi-finals are scheduled for Cape Town and Centurion on 17 and 18 November respectively, before the final on 21 November in Johannesburg.