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Ngwenya Named CEO, Khoza COO for Historic 2027 ODI World Cup

The Local Organising Committee has appointed Qondisa Ngwenya as CEO and Edward Khoza as COO for the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup. LOC Board Chairperson Trevor Manuel expressed confidence in their ability to deliver a mega event that unites the global community and leaves a lasting legacy. The tournament will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, with the latter hosting a World Cup for the first time. South Africa and Zimbabwe gain automatic qualification, while Namibia must compete in the qualifiers.

Key Points: 2027 ODI World Cup: Ngwenya CEO, Khoza COO Appointed

  • Key appointments for 2027 World Cup
  • Tri-nation hosting in Africa
  • Focus on legacy and sustainability
  • Automatic entry for SA and Zimbabwe
2 min read

Ngwenya named CEO, Khoza appointed COO for 2027 Men's ODI World Cup

Qondisa Ngwenya named CEO and Edward Khoza COO for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. LOC Chair Trevor Manuel announces.

"We look forward to their expertise in delivering a demanding mega sporting event of this magnitude. - Trevor Manuel"

Johannesburg, March 21

Qondisa Ngwenya has been named Chief Executive Officer for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup while Edward Khoza is appointed as the tournament's Chief Operating Officer, said the Local Organising Committee on Saturday.

Ngwenya and Khoza bring experience in managing major events, with track records in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. "The LOC Board is delighted to welcome Qondisa and Edward. We look forward to their expertise in delivering a demanding mega sporting event of this magnitude.

"They have proved to be more than capable of delivering the Board's vision to unite the global community through the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, inspire the next generation, and leave a lasting legacy of sport, sustainability, and social cohesion.

"We equally extend our appreciation to Cricket South Africa for supporting the process, and the International Cricket Council for endorsing the appointments," said Trevor Manuel, Chairperson of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 LOC Board, in a statement.

The appointments follow a recruitment process endorsed unanimously by the LOC Board, which said both candidates had demonstrated the capability to lead planning and operational delivery for the tournament.

The 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup will mark the 14th edition of the tournament and is scheduled to be played in October and November 2027. The showpiece event will be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

It will be the second time South Africa and Zimbabwe will co-host the competition after the 2003 edition, while Namibia will serve as a Men's ODI World Cup venue for the first time. 44 matches would be hosted by South Africa in its eight venues, while Zimbabwe and Namibia would host the remaining 10 matches.

Hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe will gain automatic entry to the tournament, along with the top eight teams in the Men's ODI rankings as of March 31, 2027. The remaining four spots will be decided through a qualifying tournament. Co-hosts Namibia will not receive direct entry for the tournament as they are not yet a full ICC member and must go through the qualifiers.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Interesting to see Namibia getting a chance to host matches, even if they have to qualify. It's good for growing the game in newer regions. The focus on "sustainability and social cohesion" in the statement is commendable. Hope the event lives up to that vision and isn't just corporate talk.
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Arjun K
With all due respect to the new appointees, I hope the operational planning is better than some recent multi-nation events. The 2003 World Cup in SA was brilliantly organized. They have a high bar to meet. My main concern is the schedule – October-November is peak festive season in India. Hope match timings are considerate for Asian fans.
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Sarah B
As a cricket fan living in India, I'm already excited! Three years to go. The automatic qualification for hosts is fair, but it does make the qualifier tournament for the last four spots incredibly high-stakes. Will be rooting for associate nations to make it.
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Vikram M
Good luck to Ngwenya and Khoza. Organizing across three countries is a massive logistical challenge. Hope the ticket pricing is reasonable and the fan experience is smooth. Also, 44 matches in South Africa and only 10 split between Zim and Namibia? Seems a bit lopsided, no?
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Karthik V
The legacy part is key. After the event, what facilities and interest in cricket remains in Namibia? That's the real test. On another note, with the format, India should easily be in the top 8 by 2027, so qualification isn't a worry. Just focus on winning!

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