The International Cricket Council (ICC) released the schedule for the ODI Cricket World Cup 2027 on Thursday. In this major event, India will face the defending champions, Australia, in their first group stage match. This match will take place on October 7, 2027, in Cape Town.
Group Division and Participating Teams
In this tournament, 12 teams that have been confirmed so far are divided into two groups. Group A includes the teams India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and another team known as 'Qualifier A'. Group B also includes New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, and 'Qualifier B'.
Read more: Iran and Bahrain on the Eighth Day of the Asian Games
The group stage of this tournament will begin on October 7. The Indian team will face Australia on this day, which is a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final. Additionally, South Africa will start its campaign on October 9 against New Zealand, and Zimbabwe, as the host, will also face 'Qualifier A' on the same day.
Crucial Match Between India and Pakistan
One of the most anticipated matches of this tournament will be the encounter between India and Pakistan, which will take place on October 10 in Johannesburg. This match is always considered one of the most important and popular games in cricket history.
Out of the 14 teams participating in this tournament, South Africa and Zimbabwe have qualified directly as hosts, and the top eight teams according to the men's ODI rankings as of September 30, 2026, have been invited to this event. The remaining four spots will be determined in the World Cup qualifying stage. The first team in this stage will qualify directly for the group stage, while the other three teams will compete in the 'Super Series' for a spot in the group stage.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the 'Super 7', and the best fourth team from the two groups will also be selected as the seventh team.
This tournament will be held in 12 different venues. The Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek will host three matches from the 'Super Series' and three group matches. Additionally, three venues in Zimbabwe and eight venues in South Africa have also been allocated for this event.
Jay Shah, the ICC President, stated that the release of the 2027 World Cup schedule and the ticket lottery are significant steps towards hosting this major event. He also emphasized that the ICC aims to make these competitions accessible with affordable ticket options, while South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, as hosts, will provide a memorable atmosphere for holding these matches.
He added: "This announcement of the schedule and the start of the ticket lottery are milestones on the path to hosting the Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, bringing fans one step closer to an amazing cricket festival in three countries. The ICC remains committed to making its World Cup events accessible to more fans and providing affordable ticket options that encourage families, youth, and local communities to engage more closely with these competitions."
Read more: Amin Mirzazadeh Becomes Champion in Greco-Roman Wrestling at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya · Significant Growth in India's IPO Market in 2026
