India and Pakistan are likely to be placed in the same group at the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, setting the stage for another early-tournament meeting between the rivals at the 14-team event, according to a report by RevSportz.
An India-Pakistan fixture remains one of the most commercially significant matchups in international cricket, carrying major value for broadcasters and commercial partners. Their anticipated placement together would continue the pattern of the two teams meeting during the initial stages of major ICC tournaments.
India-Pakistan pairing awaits confirmation
The ICC and Cricket South Africa are set to unveil the World Cup schedule in Cape Town on October 1, when the final group composition and match programme are expected to be confirmed. The launch is scheduled for 6pm local time, or 9:30pm IST.
A source in the know told RevSportz: “The schedule is being given the final touches, but going by previous ICC events, you can assume that India and Pakistan would be in the same group.”
Pakistan’s last victory over India in a 50-over ICC competition came in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. While India have held the advantage in subsequent meetings in the format at ICC events, the fixture continues to command significant commercial interest.
New format could produce another meeting
The 2027 World Cup will expand to 14 teams and introduce a new structure that creates another possible India-Pakistan encounter beyond the main group phase.
The tournament will begin with a Super Series involving the three lowest-ranked teams in the 14-team field. They will play a round robin, with the leading side advancing to join 11 other teams in the next stage.
Those 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six, with 30 matches played across the group phase. The top three teams in each group will advance, alongside the next highest-placed team across the two groups, creating a seven-team field for the next stage.
The Super Seven will operate as a full round robin comprising 21 matches. If India and Pakistan both reach that stage, they will play each other regardless of whether they were originally placed in the same group.
Should their expected group-stage pairing be confirmed and both teams later qualify for the Super Seven, the tournament would therefore produce at least two meetings between them. The top four sides from the Super Seven will advance to the semi-finals, with first playing fourth and second facing third.
Qualification field moves closer to completion
South Africa and Zimbabwe have guaranteed World Cup places as co-hosts, while Namibia will also stage matches but does not receive automatic qualification.
Eight teams earn direct entry through the ICC ODI rankings at the September 30 cut-off. India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, England, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are positioned to qualify through the rankings, while Bangladesh are also set to advance despite sitting ninth because South Africa occupy a higher position while already qualifying as hosts.
Four further places will be decided through the World Cup Qualifier, scheduled from February 22 to March 23. Two-time champions West Indies are among the teams required to take the qualification route, while Namibia must also qualify despite being one of the tournament’s three host countries.
Schedule launch will open ticket ballot
The Cape Town announcement will establish the complete tournament schedule, including the composition of the two six-team groups and the dates and venues for their fixtures.
The event will also begin the World Cup ticketing process. Supporters will initially be able to register for the ticket ballot rather than immediately purchase tickets.
The October 1 launch will settle the remaining details around the 2027 World Cup, giving teams and supporters a confirmed roadmap for a tournament that will run across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
