2027 ODI World Cup: India, Pakistan in same group; ICC announces schedule

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The tournament will begin on October 7 with a clash between India and Australia, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final. South Africa and Zimbabwe will jointly host the tournament, with the final scheduled to be held in Johannesburg on November 21. A total of 12 teams will compete in two groups in the league stage.

Group A features India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and one qualifying team. Group B comprises South Africa, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and one qualifying team. After the group-stage matches, the top seven teams overall will advance to the Super Seven stage. The top four teams from the Super Seven will qualify for the semi-finals.

One of the most eagerly awaited matches of the World Cup, the India-Pakistan clash, will be played in Johannesburg on October 10. India will face Pakistan just three days after opening its campaign against Australia on October 7. With India and Pakistan placed in the same group, the two teams could meet up to three times in the tournament. Apart from the group stage, they could face each other again in the Super Seven and later in either the semi-final or final.

India will return to the World Cup after the disappointment of losing the 2023 final to Australia. India and Australia had also faced each other in the 2003 World Cup final. The 2027 World Cup could also be a special tournament for Indian cricket as it may be the final ODI World Cup for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The tournament will also give India an opportunity to make a comeback after the heartbreak of the 2023 final.