The ODI World Cup next year in Africa is likely to begin on October 2, 2027 — Gandhi Jayanti Day. There has been no formal communication on the start date of the quadrennial showpiece yet, but Cricbuzz understands that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is working towards starting the tournament on that day to commemorate the life of a leader who championed peace and non-violence. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia are the co-hosts.Evidently, the ICC intends to mark the commencement of the World Cup by coinciding it with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who also had strong links with South Africa. Gandhi, the architect of India’s freedom movement, spent 21 years in South Africa, making the ICC’s move a fitting tribute to a leader who is hailed as the Father of the Nation in India. There is certainly a powerful message in the ICC’s plans at a time when the world order is increasingly polarised.Initially the ICC had intended to begin the World Cup on October 8 (Friday), after holding the warm-up matches in the first week of the month – from October 1 to 7 – something Cricbuzz had reported previously. However, the plans appear to have undergone some changes, with the revised schedule now likely to see the championship proper begin on October 2, with the warm-up matches squeezed in before that. The final is expected to remain on November 21 (Sunday), meaning the 14-team World Cup will run for around 50 days.
The ICC recently announced 12 venues across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia as the host cities at aspectacular ceremony in Johannesburg. Eight cities across South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and Namibia’s capital Windhoek were unveiled as the venues.The identified venues are Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), Centurion (Tshwane), Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town), Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban), St George’s Park (Gqeberha), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Boland Park (Paarl) and Buffalo Park (KuGompo City, formerly known as East London) – all in South Africa. Harare Sports Club (Harare), Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) and Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium (Victoria Falls) are the three venues in Zimbabwe. The 12th venue is Namibia Cricket Ground (Windhoek).The World Cup has undergone a change in format, with the three lowest-ranked sides competing in a mini-league, being called the Super Series. The winner of the Super Series will join the remaining 11 teams to form a 12-team field, which will be divided into two groups. The teams will play each other within their respective groups, followed by a Super Seven stage, the semi-finals and the final.South Africa (co-host), Zimbabwe (co-host), India, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have already qualified for the World Cup. The remaining four will be identified through a qualifier to be held early next year for 10 teams, including co-hosts Namibia, the West Indies and Ireland. 
