Cricket’s most heated and biggest-selling fixture, India vs Pakistan, will have at least one meeting at the World Cup 2027, according to the schedule announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
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fixture → sell → Council
Johannesburg will host the group-stage fixture between the bitter rivals, as well as the final, the ICC revealed in the schedule released on Thursday.
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ICC → host → Thursday
A total of 12 venues will host the matches between the 12 participants across three countries: South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
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total → host → countries
The India-Pakistan match is scheduled for October 10, 2027 in Johannesburg, which will also host the November 21, 2027 final.
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which → schedule → final
The South Asian neighbours could meet for a second time in the Super Seven stage of the competition, and for a third time in the final, should both qualify for it.
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both → meet → it
The most lucrative group-stage match of the tournament will be guaranteed by drawing both India and Pakistan in the same group in a ballot held behind closed doors, unlike other major global sporting events.
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match → guarantee → events
The 12 nations are split into two groups:
Group A: Australia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, qualifier.
Group B: New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, qualifier.
The two qualifiers will be confirmed after a 10-team tournament early next year.
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qualifiers → split → tournament
The winner will advance to the group stage of the mega event.
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winner → advance → event
The losing finalist and the two losing semifinalists will play the Super Series in Namibia ahead of the World Cup, with the winner advancing as the second qualifier.
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winner → lose → qualifier
The group stage of the tournament begins in Cape Town on October 7, 2027 when defending champions Australia take on India in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.
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Australia → begin → final
Newlands in Cape Town, which has an iconic mountain backdrop, will also host a semifinal on November 17, 2027.
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which → have → November
The second semifinal on November 18 next year will be played at Centurion’s SuperSport Park.
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semifinal → play → Park
The ICC said that the top 10 teams in its rankings as of Tuesday have gained automatic qualification.
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teams → say → qualification
Zimbabwe, the cohosts of the tournament, begin their campaign on October 11, 2027 with a game against Afghanistan at Bulawayo.
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Zimbabwe → begin → Bulawayo
“South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will provide an unforgettable stage for the world’s best teams, combining a deep passion for cricket, extraordinary destinations and a renowned warmth of welcome,” ICC chairman Jay Shah said in a statement.
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Shah → provide → statement
After the group stage, the top three teams from each group advance to the Super 7 stage.
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teams → advance → stage
The ICC said that, to provide clarity for fans, teams and stakeholders, a number of teams have been pre-seeded into the designated Super 7 stage, no matter where they finish among the top three during the group stage.
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they → say → stage
England will play two group games in Namibia, while a newly built Victoria Falls ground in Zimbabwe hosts the final game of the group stage between the co-hosts and India on October 24, 2027.
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ground → play → October
An additional three games in the Super 7 stage will also be hosted at the same venue.
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games → host → venue
The top four teams after the Super 7 phase advance to the semifinals.
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teams → advance → semifinals
The top finisher will play against the fourth-placed team, with the second- and third-placed teams going head-to-head in the other semi-final.
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teams → play → final
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