Tourism Minister presents plans to launch direct flights to India for the 2027 Cricket World Cup

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille stated that the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 will be a significant event for South Africa's tourism industry. As South Africa will be a co-host of this tournament, the minister is leading government efforts to create an unforgettable experience for guests and ensure direct air links between South Africa and India.

De Lille indicated that India and China have been identified as key inbound tourism destinations. She noted that given the presence of competitors such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, which are also discussing direct flights with Indian airlines, high-level meetings were held with SAA, as well as with private carriers in India for a potential launch of a direct flight between South Africa and India.

The negotiations involved the Department of Tourism, the Department of Transport, and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. The Minister emphasized the importance of a swift resolution to this matter, as South Africa is hosting the World Cup next year, and cricket in India holds the status of religion, implying an expected large number of Indian fans in South Africa.

De Lille also reported that the High Commissioner of South Africa in India, Professor Anil Sukhlal, is engaging with the Indian business and corporate sectors. The Ministry plans to leverage the World Cup within marketing campaigns aimed at encouraging fans to extend their stays. Ticket sales tracking is planned to begin in October, and private sector service packages will be coordinated to showcase the diversity of South African offerings and attract visitors before and after the tournament.

According to the Statistics South Africa 2025 tourism report, tourism related to the original BRIC countries (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, and China) remains important. In 2025, 213,138 tourists from these countries arrived in South Africa, accounting for 8.9% of all international arrivals. India led this group with 69,680 tourists, followed by Brazil (63,848), the Russian Federation (41,708), and China (37,902).

De Lille added that they will collaborate with the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Transport to ensure seamless travel for people in South Africa, including creating a fast-track point for arrivals to avoid airport congestion. Furthermore, community tourism initiatives are being considered so that guests can interact with local culture and small businesses.

They also plan to target major cricket-loving nations such as India, England, Australia, Pakistan, and New Zealand, as they have some of the largest fan bases. The goal is to win their favor and show what South Africa has to offer, either before or after the World Cup. Visitor experiences will then be showcased through hotels, transport, and information centers.

Together with SAT (SA Tourism), the World Cup is planned to be presented as a sports tourism platform. Since the World Cup will take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, De Lille announced a regional tourism presentation for these countries, similar to regional marketing promotion. South Africa will emphasize its wildlife, culture, wine routes, and beaches, and will also create regional tourism packages. The main message they want to convey is 'the friendliest country in the world and home of the ICC Cricket World Cup.'

Professor Sukhlal noted that the lack of a direct flight to India is a drawback for South Africa, especially considering the market presence. He stated that the business sector constantly insists on the need for a direct flight, as transit time poses a serious obstacle to trade. Direct flights are necessary to maximize both business efficiency and tourism, as travelers prefer convenient direct connections over layovers.

Even consistently scoring victories in local competitions does not guarantee a spot in the Indian national team. This is the story of experienced spinner Dharmand Singh Jadeja. The 36-year-old Jadeja has taken many wickets in local tournaments but has still not had the opportunity to play for the senior Indian side. The left-arm spinner, who played in First-Class, List-A, and T20 formats, has taken 609 wickets.

His performances in the Ranji Trophy in recent years have been outstanding, yet he has failed to secure a place in the Indian starting lineup. Dharmand Singh Jadeja's name is often associated with Ravindra Jadeja. Both players are from Surat and are left-arm spinners, although they are not related. Dharmand Singh was for a long time a key element of Surat's bowling attack in local competitions, and now he is preparing to start a new phase of his career.

He has received clearance from the Surat Cricket Association (SCA) and is expected to play for Chhattisgarh in the upcoming domestic season. Ravindra Jadeja achieved recognition on the international stage, while Dharmand Singh Jadeja's career has been within domestic cricket, where he has achieved undeniable statistics.

Dharmand Singh has taken 423 wickets in 100 First-Class matches at an average of 26.25. He has taken five or more wickets in a match 26 times and 10 or more wickets in a single match seven times. His best innings performance in First-Class cricket was 7/32. These figures indicate that he was not just a long-serving player but one of Surat's main weapons, consistently taking wickets.

One of Jadeja's most significant achievements is his continuous participation in the Ranji Trophy. From the 2017-18 season to the present, Dharmand Singh Jadeja has taken 293 wickets in Ranji, which is more than any other bowler during this period. Despite this, he has failed to make it into the Indian Test team. During this period, spin options like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav were available in India, making competition for a spot in the national team extremely tough.

Dharmand Singh Jadeja's brilliant results are not limited to First-Class cricket. He has taken 121 wickets in 90 List-A matches at an average of 28.33, with his best performance in this format being 7/10. Furthermore, in 73 T20 matches, he registered 65 wickets at an average of 24.92. Dharmand Singh is also capable of scoring runs. In First-Class cricket, he scored 2123 runs, including 7 half-centuries. In List-A, he scored 566 runs, and in T20, 208 runs.

Before the start of the new domestic season, negotiations took place between the Surat Cricket Association, the team management, and the player himself regarding Dharmand Singh Jadeja's future. The main issue concerned his role in white-ball cricket. The team management wanted the experienced spinner to focus primarily on red-ball cricket, whereas Dharmand Singh wished to continue playing in ODI and T20 formats.

Dharmand Singh Jadeja was an important part of Surat's bowling attack during a period when the team achieved great success in Indian domestic cricket. Dharmand Singh was part of the Ranji Trophy winning teams in the 2019-20 and 2022-23 seasons. Now, his long journey with Surat is concluded. One SCA official commented on his decision, saying: 'We wish him all the best in the future.'

Dharmand Singh Jadeja is preparing to take on a new challenge for Chhattisgarh. However, the question remains: will the doors to the Indian national team open for him, despite 100 First-Class matches, dominance in Ranji for years, and over 600 wickets?

The Afghan star, leg-spinner Rashid Khan, has achieved a historic milestone in the ODI format. In the second match of the five-match series against Ireland, he took 6 wickets, conceding only 34 runs. Thanks to his powerful performance, Afghanistan defeated Northern Ireland by a margin of 92 runs.

In the match held at the Bradie Cricket Club in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan scored 299 runs, while Ireland managed only 207 runs in response. Rashid Khan became the first spinner in ODI history to take six or more wickets in a single match three times in his career.

The significance of this achievement can be compared to the records of other successful ODI spinners such as Wanindu Hasaranga, Imram Tahir, Shahid Afridi, Aqila Dandzai, Sandeep Lamichane, and Ajanta Mendis, who achieved a six-wicket haul twice. Rashid Khan is the only spinner to have accomplished this feat three times, and he achieved it in 121 ODI matches.

While pursuing the target of 300 runs, Ireland tried to hold out early in the game, but Rashid Khan's appearance quickly changed the course of the match. Already on the first ball of the 15th over, he dismissed Andrew Balbirnie (36). After that, his spin could not save Harry Tector (5 runs), Benjamin Kalitza (27 runs), Curtis Campher (23 runs), Jay Mundru (3 runs), and Byron McDonough (0 runs). The series of quick dismissals from Khan caused the pace of the running Irish players to drop, and the entire team left the field after 33.2 overs.

Rashid Khan debuted in ODIs on October 15, 2015, against Zimbabwe. About a year and a half later, he took his first six wickets in an ODI match. In March 2017, in Greater Noida against Ireland, he delivered a performance of 6/43. In the same year, against West Indies, he demonstrated his most dangerous spin bowling, taking seven wickets for only 18 runs in Gross-Ailette.

In terms of the number of matches where a player took six wickets for one team, Rashid Khan is equal to former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis. Waqar took six wickets twice against New Zealand, whereas Rashid achieved this for the second time against Ireland. Nevertheless, the overall record for the highest number of six-wicket matches in ODIs still belongs to Waqar, who achieved this feat five times.

Afghanistan scored 299 runs in 47 overs, taking eight wickets. Ireland's target was 300 runs, but Khan's play prevented the team's batsmen from forming significant partnerships. Ajmatullah Omerzai took two wickets, and Fazlhaq Faruqi took one. As a result, the hosts could only reach 207 runs. The third match of the five-match series will take place on August 10 in Belfast.