India, Pakistan drawn together for 2027 World Cup clash in Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG : India and Pakistan will meet in the group stage of the 2027 Cricket World Cup after being drawn together in Group A, with the rivals set to face off at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium on Oct. 10 next year.

India will also play Australia in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, with their Group A match scheduled for Cape Town on Oct. 7 as the tournament is co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The India-Pakistan fixture is expected to attract strong interest given the long-standing cricket rivalry between the two neighbours, which has been shaped in part by political tensions.

The Wanderers, known as the “Bullring”, will also host the World Cup final on Nov. 21.

Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and a qualifier will join Australia, India and Pakistan in Group A. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super 7 stage, along with the best fourth-placed team across the two groups.

Co-hosts South Africa are in Group B alongside England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and another qualifier.

The tournament will begin on Oct. 2 with a round-robin three-team first stage, which will determine the final qualifier for the second stage.

2027 Cricket World Cup groups:

Group A: Afghanistan, Australia, India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Qualifier A

Group B: Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Qualifier B