India and Australia to open 2027 World Cup in Cape Town as full schedule and groups unveiled
The International Cricket Council unveiled the full schedule and group draw for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in Cape Town on Thursday, marking the one-year countdown to the tournament. The event also opened ticket sales for the 14-team competition, which runs from 2 October to 21 November 2027.
India and Pakistan reunited as holders land in separate group
Defending champions Australia, who beat India in the 2023 final, will open the tournament against the runners-up in a repeat of that final in Cape Town on 7 October. The two heavyweights have been drawn together in Group A, alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and one qualifier.
India and Pakistan — who do not play each other outside of ICC tournaments — meet in Johannesburg on 10 October. “India and Pakistan are, once again, placed in the same group, alongside Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and a qualifier,” the BBC reported.
Group B features co-hosts South Africa, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the second qualifying team. Crucially for England, Harry Brook's side avoided both Australia and the world number one-ranked India at the group stage. “England have avoided defending champions Australia and world number one-ranked side India in the group-stage draw,” the BBC noted, adding that Brook's side “have enjoyed a resurgence in the 50-over format.”
England's route and the return to Zimbabwe
England, winners in 2019, begin their campaign against Bangladesh on 8 October in Windhoek, Namibia, before facing Sri Lanka in the same city on 13 October. They meet South Africa in Gqeberha on 16 October and travel to Harare to face a qualifier on 20 October, rounding off the group stage against New Zealand in Gqeberha on 23 October.
The visit to Zimbabwe carries historical weight. England have not played there since 2004, and political unrest under former president Robert Mugabe caused problems for the men's team throughout the 2000s. England boycotted their fixture against Zimbabwe in Harare at the 2003 World Cup — a decision which ultimately derailed their campaign. Relations have improved in recent years, and BBC Sport reported in 2025 that the two cricket boards were discussing a potential England tour of the country in the next international cycle between 2027 and 2031.
Qualification and tournament format
Ten of the 14 teams had secured their places by the 30 September qualification cut-off. Hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe received automatic berths, while India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh qualified on ICC ODI rankings. Namibia are co-hosts but, as a non-full-member nation, do not have an automatic place. Two-time champions the West Indies must also go through the qualification route. The remaining four spots will be decided in qualifiers scheduled for early next year.
The tournament features three stages before the semi-finals and final. A Super Series involving the three lowest-ranked teams sees each play once in a round-robin, with the top side advancing. Round 2 features 30 matches as 12 teams split into two groups of six, with the top three from each group plus the best fourth-placed team progressing to the Super 7 — a 21-match round-robin. The top four reach the semi-finals, scheduled for 17 and 18 November, with the final in Johannesburg on 21 November.
How to watch
The schedule announcement was broadcast live on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network from 8:30pm IST in India.