Kumar Bahukhandi
Fourteen-team tournament begins with Super Series on October 2; India-Pakistan group-stage clash scheduled for October 10 in Johannesburg
Key Highlights
- World Cup runs from October 2 to November 21, 2027 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
- India begin their Group Stage campaign against defending champions Australia in Cape Town on October 7.
- India face Pakistan in Johannesburg on October 10.
- Twelve teams will contest the Group Stage in two groups of six.
- Seven teams advance to the Super 7, followed by two semi-finals and the final.
- The tournament comprises 57 matches across 12 venues.
- Johannesburg will host the final on November 21.
New Delhi: The International Cricket Council has announced the complete schedule for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, setting out a 57-match tournament across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21 next year.
The competition will begin with a three-team Super Series in Windhoek on October 2. The three sides entering this preliminary stage will play a round-robin series, with the leading team advancing to the Group Stage.
India will begin their Group Stage campaign against defending champions Australia in Cape Town on October 7, recreating the 2023 World Cup final. The much-anticipated India-Pakistan encounter follows in Johannesburg on October 10.
The 12 Group Stage teams have been divided into two groups. Group A comprises India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A, while Group B consists of New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.
South Africa and Zimbabwe qualified automatically as hosts, while the eight highest-ranked eligible teams at the September 30, 2026 cut-off secured direct qualification. Four remaining places will emerge from the Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Its winner advances directly to the Group Stage, while the next three teams enter the Super Series.
The top three teams from each Group Stage group, together with the better-performing fourth-placed side, will advance to the Super 7. The seven teams will then play a single round-robin phase, with the leading four reaching the semi-finals. No Group Stage points will be carried into the Super 7.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah described the schedule announcement and opening of the ticket ballot as major steps towards the tournament, saying the governing body wanted the World Cup to remain accessible to families, young supporters and local communities. He said South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia would combine their cricketing passion, destinations and hospitality to provide a memorable stage for the competition.
A total of 12 venues will stage matches. South Africa will use Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Bloemfontein, Durban, KuGompo City and Gqeberha; Zimbabwe will stage games in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls; and Windhoek will represent Namibia. icc
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 — Full Schedule in Date Sequence
Super Series
October 2: QF1 vs QF3 — Windhoek
October 4: QF1 vs QF2 — Windhoek
October 6: QF2 vs QF3 — Windhoek
Group Stage
October 7: India vs Australia — Cape Town
October 8: Pakistan vs Afghanistan — Tshwane
October 8: England vs Bangladesh — Windhoek
October 9: Zimbabwe vs Qualifier A — Bulawayo
October 9: South Africa vs New Zealand — Cape Town
October 10: India vs Pakistan — Johannesburg
October 10: Sri Lanka vs Qualifier B — Windhoek
October 11: Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan — Bulawayo
October 12: Australia vs Qualifier A — Paarl
October 12: New Zealand vs Bangladesh — KuGompo City
October 13: England vs Sri Lanka — Windhoek
October 13: South Africa vs Qualifier B — Paarl
October 14: India vs Afghanistan — Tshwane
October 15: Pakistan vs Qualifier A — Bloemfontein
October 15: Zimbabwe vs Australia — Harare
October 16: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh — Durban
October 16: South Africa vs England — Gqeberha
October 17: India vs Qualifier A — Bloemfontein
October 17: New Zealand vs Qualifier B — Harare
October 18: Australia vs Afghanistan — KuGompo City
October 19: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan — Harare
October 19: South Africa vs Bangladesh — Durban
October 20: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka — Johannesburg
October 20: England vs Qualifier B — Harare
October 21: Afghanistan vs Qualifier A — KuGompo City
October 22: Australia vs Pakistan — Paarl
October 22: South Africa vs Sri Lanka — Johannesburg
October 23: England vs New Zealand — Gqeberha
October 23: Bangladesh vs Qualifier B — Tshwane
October 24: Zimbabwe vs India — Victoria Falls icc
Super 7 Stage
The ICC has pre-seeded India as A1, Australia as A2, Pakistan as A3, England as AB4, New Zealand as B1, South Africa as B2 and Sri Lanka as B3. If another qualifying team displaces a seeded side, it assumes that team’s designated Super 7 position. icc
October 25: A2 (Australia) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) — Johannesburg
October 26: B1 (New Zealand) vs A3 (Pakistan) — Gqeberha
October 27: B2 (South Africa) vs AB4 (England) — Tshwane
October 28: A1 (India) vs A2 (Australia) — Victoria Falls
October 29: B1 (New Zealand) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) — KuGompo City
October 30: A3 (Pakistan) vs AB4 (England) — Victoria Falls
October 31: B2 (South Africa) vs A1 (India) — Johannesburg
November 1: A2 (Australia) vs B1 (New Zealand) — Victoria Falls
November 2: B3 (Sri Lanka) vs AB4 (England) — Cape Town
November 3: B2 (South Africa) vs A3 (Pakistan) — Durban
November 4: A1 (India) vs B1 (New Zealand) — Paarl
November 5: A2 (Australia) vs AB4 (England) — Durban
November 6: B2 (South Africa) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) — Bloemfontein
November 7: A1 (India) vs A3 (Pakistan) — Cape Town
November 8: B1 (New Zealand) vs AB4 (England) — Durban
November 9: B2 (South Africa) vs A2 (Australia) — Gqeberha
November 10: A3 (Pakistan) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) — Bloemfontein
November 11: A1 (India) vs AB4 (England) — Gqeberha
November 12: B2 (South Africa) vs B1 (New Zealand) — Cape Town
November 13: A2 (Australia) vs A3 (Pakistan) — Bloemfontein
November 14: A1 (India) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) — Durban
Semi-Finals
November 17: Semi-Final 1 — Cape Town
November 18: Semi-Final 2 — Tshwane
Final
November 21: Final — Johannesburg
The ICC has also provided reserve days for both semi-finals and the final. The championship match will return to Johannesburg, which also hosts the India-Pakistan Group Stage encounte
