Zimpapers Logo

Brandon Moyo, [email protected]

ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) is gearing up for a significant upgrade of the country’s two premier cricket stadiums — Queens Sports Club and Harare Sports Clubs.

The stadiums are set to play a crucial role as Zimbabwe co-hosts the 2027 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup alongside neighbours South Africa and Namibia.

The primary focus of the upgrade lies in expanding the seating capacities at the stadiums. ZC aims to accommodate as many fans as possible during the matches. The urgency for this enhancement became evident during last year’s World Cup Qualifiers, where fans in both Harare and Bulawayo were turned away due to packed stadiums.

To address this issue, the governing body of cricket in Zimbabwe is committed to avoiding overcrowding by expanding the grounds. The project is scheduled to kick off as early as July. Notably, floodlights were successfully installed at Harare Sports Club last year, and ZC plans to extend this feature to Queens Sports Club as well.

“We will be hosting the 2026 Under-19 World Cup and the 2027 World Cup and therefore, we have to expand our stadiums. As you saw during the World Cup Qualifiers, Harare Sports Club had become smaller and we had to close the gates at 11am and create a fan park at the rugby ground.

“The game is growing and more people are starting to appreciate and follow cricket, that is why we are looking at increasing the sitting capacities at Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club. We are looking to start working after the India tour (in July) and make sure that our stadiums are able to cater to as many fans as they possibly can.

“One of the major developments will also be installing floodlights at Queens Sports Club, we are working towards that soon,” said Makoni.

In addition to the Queens Sports Club and Harare Sports Club receiving a facelift, plans are underway for a new stadium in Victoria Falls. According to Makoni, this new stadium is expected to be ready by 2027, thereby increasing the number of cricket venues in the country.

Currently, apart from Queens and Harare Sports Clubs, two other stadiums have successfully hosted international cricket matches: the Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) and the Takashinga Cricket Club.

Makoni also mentioned that these two stadiums, along with various other sports clubs in the country, will also undergo renovations.
“We are not just looking at increasing the capacity at Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club but also going to refurbish a number of clubs. There are plans to build a stadium in Victoria Falls and have it working by 2027. At the moment, the drawings are taking place and once that and everything else is in place, we will start the works,” said Makoni.

Zimbabwe is set to co-host the global cricket showpiece for the second time, having previously done so in 2003 alongside South Africa. The two stadiums, Queens Sports Club and Harare Sports Club have played their roles over the years, necessitating refurbishment to accommodate more spectators.
Last year, ZC chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani said the board will begin renovation works to ensure that these facilities are ready for the World Cup. With decades of history, these stadiums hold a special place in international cricket. Their old pavilions and tree-lined surroundings contribute to their charm. — @brandon_malvin