The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 is beginning to take shape, with the 14th edition of the global tournament scheduled to start on October 2. South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe will jointly host the competition, while the qualification race is still ongoing with several teams fighting for the remaining places.
With the tournament now drawing closer, discussions around the potential favourites have already begun. Former West Indies captain Brian Lara has also weighed in with his prediction, naming a team to go all the way. His choice is particularly notable given that India and Australia, the finalists and champions respectively from the 2023 edition, were not among his selections.
Brian Lara picks the No. 1 team for the ODI World Cup 2027
Speaking at the official launch event of the 2027 ODI World Cup, Lara identified South Africa as his top contender for the title. The Proteas will have the advantage of playing the tournament on home soil, something Lara believes could work strongly in their favour.
“South Africa hosting after 24 years, I fancy them this time around. I think they are going to be my No.1 team,” Lara said.
South Africa last hosted the ODI World Cup in 2003, when they staged the tournament alongside Zimbabwe and Kenya. More than two decades later, the Proteas will once again have the opportunity to compete for the biggest prize in ODI cricket in front of their home supporters.
Lara’s prediction also comes at a time when South Africa will be looking to make the most of familiar playing conditions. The presence of Namibia and Zimbabwe as co-hosts will also give the tournament a strong southern African flavour.
Lara keeps door open for West Indies
While South Africa emerged as Lara’s clear favourite, the former West Indies skipper did not completely dismiss his home side’s chances. However, the West Indies first need to negotiate the qualification process before they can dream of competing at the 2027 World Cup.
“Don’t rule out the West Indies rolling through the qualifiers, getting in there and causing some chaos,” Lara said.
West Indies missed out on direct qualification after finishing 10th in the ICC ODI rankings at the September 30 cutoff. Only the top eight teams secured direct qualification, leaving the Caribbean side dependent on the upcoming qualifying event. That makes their route to the World Cup considerably more challenging, but Lara believes they could still make an impact if they successfully secure their place in the tournament.
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India and Australia miss out on Lara’s prediction
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Lara’s prediction is the teams he did not mention. India reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, while Australia lifted the trophy after defeating the Rohit Sharma-led side in the summit clash. India are also expected to have experienced stars such as Rohit and Virat Kohli in contention for the 2027 tournament, making Lara’s decision not to select them particularly noteworthy.
Australia, meanwhile, will enter the next World Cup as the reigning champions. Yet Lara opted to place his faith in South Africa instead.
With the 2027 World Cup still some time away, there will be plenty of opportunity for teams to strengthen their squads and build momentum. For now, though, Lara has made his choice clear: the Proteas are his No.1 team for the coveted ODI World Cup title.
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