Cricket South Africa has announced the formation of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Board for the Cricket World Cup, due to be held in this country in 2027. Former finance minister, Trevor Manuel, was named as independent chairperson.

The body said that the appointment was a first step in preparing South Africa to host the global tournament for the first time since 2003. It also said there would be a renewed focus on innovation, diversity, and African unity.

According to CSA the LOC will be made up of six independent non-executive directors, five non-independent non-executive directors, and three ex-officio CSA executives. High-profile figures on the committee include former deputy president, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. She will serve alongside CSA chief executive, Pholetsi Moseki.

CSA said with Manuel at the helm, the board had a mandate to deliver a World Cup that broadens the game’s appeal and leaves a legacy across Southern Africa.

Matches will be played in eight South African cities, with an additional ten games split between Zimbabwe and Namibia, making a total of fifty-four fixtures.

The cities were matches will be played in South Africa are Johannesburg, Centurion, Durban, East London, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Gqeberha, and Paarl, while matches will also be played in Windhoek in Namibia and Bulawayo and Harare in Zimbabwe.

The Proteas will be hoping that they will finally be able to break their white-ball tournament hoodoo, having never won a white-ball World Cup. In June the Proteas won the World Test Championship, marking the first time ever that the Proteas had won a cricket world championship, but they will be looking to snatch a white-ball trophy at home too. They recently beat Australia in an ODI series and are currently leading England 1-0 in another ODI series, currently being played in the United Kingdom.