WITH the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 just a month away, tournament director Hamilton Masakadza says Zimbabwe is fully prepared to deliver a world-class event as co-hosts of the global showpiece.
Speaking at the official tournament launch on Saturday at Cresta Lodge in Harare, the former Zimbabwe captain said preparations were in their final stages following months of intensive work by the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
“I would say we’re pretty much ready,” Masakadza said.
“There's a lot of work that has gone into it. The LOC has been hard at work for the past five or six months just putting things together, and I'm really happy with where we are."
Masakadza highlighted the significant investment made in upgrading facilities.
While flagship grounds such as Harare Sports Club — which will host the final — and Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo were already in good condition, extensive upgrades were carried out at several secondary venues.
"First and foremost, to the grounds, because obviously, without good grounds you can't host a tournament," he said.
“We've had a few developments in Masvingo, Takashinga... at Prince Edward. We've also worked out to those other venues."
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Takashinga Cricket Club in Highfield will host the Young Chevrons’ group-stage matches, including Zimbabwe’s opening fixture against Scotland on January 15.
Beyond infrastructure, Masakadza said the LOC had paid close attention to logistics, including travel, accommodation, catering and security.
"We obviously use the rest of this last month to polish up on that last 5%," Masakadza added, underlining the final stretch of preparations.
He stressed that the tournament goes beyond cricket, offering Zimbabwe a rare opportunity to showcase itself on a global stage.
We’re really looking forward to hosting a vibrant event that not only launches future stars, but also showcases the country in a positive light,” Masakadza said.
“We’ll have many visitors coming to our shores for the first time, and we want them to experience Zimbabwe at its best.”
"We're going to have a lot of visitors, a lot of people visiting our shores for the first time, so we really want them to experience the country. We also want to build a better brand for the country as well.”
He expressed confidence that the country would leave a lasting impression on visitors.
"I'm very confident that they will not be disappointed because we all know what our country is like."
That sense of readiness and national pride was echoed by the guest of honour, Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture minister Anselem Sanyatwe, who
was represented by the ministry’s acting secretary, Cynthia Mawema.
Sanyatwe reaffirmed the government’s “firm and unwavering” commitment to the tournament.
“Every ministry and agency involved is ready, pads on, gloves tight, numbers secure. We guarantee a safe environment, efficient operations, seamless logistics,” he said.
The tournament will feature 16 teams contesting 41 matches, with Zimbabwe opening their Group B campaign against Scotland on January 15.
With strong backing from both the LOC and government, Zimbabwe appears set to host a memorable showcase of the world’s best emerging cricket talent.
