The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the full schedule for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup, confirming that arch-rivals Pakistan and India will meet on October 10 in Johannesburg. This eagerly awaited fixture is part of a 14-team tournament jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, featuring 57 matches held across 12 venues.
Pakistan has been placed in Group A, alongside India, defending champions Australia, Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe, and a team yet to be determined through Qualifier A. The Green Shirts will launch their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on October 8, before facing India two days later in Johannesburg. Their group stage continues with a match against Qualifier A on October 15, followed by games versus Zimbabwe on October 19 and Australia on October 22 in Paarl.
The tournament will commence with the Super Series starting on October 2 in Windhoek, involving three teams that advance from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. These teams will compete in a round-robin format, with the top two progressing to the main round.
The main stage will feature 12 teams divided into two groups of six. Notably, the opening match of this phase will see Australia face India in Cape Town on October 7, replicating the final matchup from the 2023 World Cup.
Following the group stage, the top three teams from each group, along with the highest-ranked remaining team across both groups, will move forward to the Super Seven stage. This phase will include six additional matches played between October 25 and November 14. The four best teams from this stage will then advance to the semi-finals.
The tournament is set to conclude with the final scheduled for November 21. The official schedule was unveiled at a launch event in Cape Town on Thursday, which featured appearances by both former and current cricket stars.
Additionally, the ICC has initiated a ticket ballot registration, allowing fans to express their interest in attending matches throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The 2027 edition will mark the 14th ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and is poised to be the largest ever held on African soil.
