World Cup provides CSA with chance to show renewal is real

Though Trevor Manuel was frustrated at how long it took to finally reveal the 12-member committee that will oversee the organising of the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, the organisation that appointed the local organising committee (LOC) had reason to practise caution, given its recent chequered history. 

The hosting of the World Cup is the culmination of a chapter for Cricket South Africa (CSA) that offers proof of the local mother body’s renewal after the administrative collapse that almost ended the sport in the country. 

There are still pockets that don’t trust CSA, and the level of public confidence in the organisation remains fragile. However, success on the field has seen sponsors show faith, and it is now for the administration to show that it can organise a major event to put a stamp on the hard and difficult work of the last five years.

CSA wanted a committee that not only covered a range of expertise but, most importantly, was credible and engendered trust. Manuel certainly would not have put his name to it were that not the case, and in former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, respected businessmen Herman Bosman and Stavros Nicolaou, and Adv Karrisha Pillay SC, the committee has gravitas.

Outside of cricket, generally the public doesn’t know South Africa is hosting the World Cup. I think it’s one of the biggest challenges. How do we get South Africans excited about hosting the world in two and half years’ time? 

—  Pholetsi Moseki, Cricket SA CEO

There were furrowed brows about the presence of “political strategist” Unathi Tshotwana, whose name was linked to CSA’s administrative disintegration through a finding in the Fundudzi Forensic report in 2020.  But CSA president Rihan Richards was swift to counter that Tshotwana had in fact been nominated to the committee by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office, and that CSA had furnished the government with all documentation related to Tshotwana’s previous work with the organisation. 

Manuel made it clear he’d brook no semblance of malfeasance in the organisation of the tournament. In fact so strong is his desire for the World Cup to leave a lasting impression that he demanded the media and public to hold the committee’s feet to the fire about the legacy he wants the tournament to leave behind. 

“You can’t have G20 roads and not roads... it is the experience that matters, it will be lasting and it will bring people back to South Africa. It can’t just be a set of events in 2027, it needs to be an all in effort,” he said. 

CSA can’t afford to waste time. Two years seems a long way off, but CEO Pholetsi Moseki said the organisation wants stadiums to be ready a year in advance. Some work has already started, the most notable of which is the installation of new lighting at Newlands, Kingsmead, the Wanderers and SuperSport Park — the country’s biggest venues. 

That work will be completed later this year, in time for the start of the SA20, while upgrades to pitches, media centres, training areas and dressing rooms will be made in the next 12 months. 

The LOC will create the bridge between CSA and the government, making sure the enormous logistical framework is in place to allow the event to run efficiently. 

Local councils will feel the heat with upgrades to roads and airports, all significant infrastructure projects in need of upgrade. “There is a lot of work that needs to happen, especially somewhere like East London, but everyone is aligned,” said Moseki.

Though there is still plenty of time between now and October 2027, when the tournament is due to take place, Moseki wants the LOC to start creating excitement about the event in South Africa.

“Within cricket, we know about this amazing event that is coming to South Africa, but outside of cricket, generally the public doesn’t know that South Africa is hosting the World Cup. I think it’s one of the biggest challenges. How do we get South Africans excited about hosting the world in two and half years’ time?”