CAPE TOWN: Pakistan will face arch-rivals India and defending champions Australia in the group stage of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, with the eagerly anticipated India-Pakistan clash scheduled for Johannesburg on Oct 10, the International Cricket Council announced on Thursday.
Pakistan have also been drawn alongside Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and a qualifier in Group ‘A’ for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
India and Australia will open the main tournament phase with their encounter at Newlands in Cape Town on Oct 7, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.
Pakistan will begin their campaign against Afghanistan in Centurion on Oct 8, two days before their meeting with India at the Wanderers.
The 14-team tournament will begin with a three-team Super Series in Namibia on Oct 2, involving the three lowest-ranked qualifiers. The winner will progress to the group stage, which begins on Oct 7.
The 12 teams in the group stage will be divided into two groups of six, with each side playing the others once. The top three teams from each group, along with the highest-ranked fourth-placed side, will advance to the Super Seven phase.
The Super Seven will be a single round-robin competition, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals. Cape Town and Centurion will host the semi-finals on Nov 17 and 18 respectively, while the final will be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Nov 21.
Group ‘B’ comprises co-hosts South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and another qualifier.
The tournament will mark the return of the men’s World Cup to Africa for the first time since 2003 and Namibia’s first hosting of matches at the senior event.
The ICC also opened its ticket ballot on Thursday, with fans able to register until Nov 21, 2026. Entry to the ballot is free, while ticket prices will start at approximately $9.50.
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012 due to political tensions and now meet primarily in ICC events.
India have won all eight of their World Cup meetings, including their most recent encounter at the 2023 edition.
Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026
