It may seem like wishful thinking, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) has subtly laid the groundwork for a lucrative possibility: Pakistan and India could meet up to three times in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Under the sweeping changes approved at the ICC’s recent Annual Conference in Edinburgh, the 14-team tournament for 2027 has moved away from its originally planned structure to a newly approved three-stage format.

If Pakistan and India are placed in the same six-team pool during Round 2, they will face off in the group stage. If both progress to the newly formed ‘Super 7’ round-robin, they will meet again. The third encounter could potentially be in the knock-out stage – either in the semi-final or the final.

We witnessed this exact triple-header scenario as recently as the ACC T20 Asia Cup in 2025, where the two teams met in the group stage, the Super Four, and the final. While India won all three matches, the event organisers – and broadcasters – had a field day cashing in on the traditional rivals, who have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13.

The revamping of the World Cup format, which creates this window for three India-Pakistan matches, is a clear vindication of what we already know: these clashes are the undisputed golden goose of ICC Events. They generate millions of dollars, which are then distributed among Test and non-Test playing nations according to an agreed formula.

This structural shift should also strengthen the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) claim for a larger piece of the ICC Revenue Distribution Model. Pakistan currently receives an annual earning of approximately $34.51 million, placing it fourth behind India ($231 million), England ($41.33 million), and Australia ($37.53 million).

In the wake of this restructure, the PCB must aggressively lobby for a larger share in the next four-year cycle. The philosophy is simple: it takes two hands to clap. India undeniably deserves the lion’s share because of the revenue it generates, but Pakistan rightfully deserves the second-highest share. It is their presence opposite India that allows the ICC to command astronomical broadcast, global sponsorship, and ticketing deals.

The decisions made in Edinburgh clearly reflect the ICC’s mandate to maximise commercial rights. With JioStar India recently escalating its damages claim against Zee Entertainment to over $1 billion over their collapsed broadcast deal, the ICC’s future media rights are shrouded in uncertainty. Guaranteeing high-profile, bankable matches is no longer just a preference – it’s a financial necessity.

This commercial drive extends beyond the ODI format.

The ICC has also confirmed the qualification pathway for the LA28 Olympic Games, featuring an eight-team ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027. While India’s women’s team has already qualified and the men’s team will likely qualify automatically via rankings, Pakistan’s participation in this qualifier alongside nations like New Zealand, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will provide broadcasters with more high-stakes matches, further bolstering the ICC’s negotiating power.

However, while the boardroom mathematics are aligning for a trilogy, the on-field reality tells a different story. While the prospect of three World Cup matches between these rivals is tantalising for executives, cricket pundits may laugh it off on current form. In the ICC ODI Team Rankings, top-ranked India currently leads fifth-ranked Pakistan by a significant 19 points.

In the 21st century, the two sides have met in 51 ODIs; India has won 29, Pakistan 21, with one no-result. While Pakistan still holds the overall historical lead at 73-58, India has established absolute dominance on the global stage, winning all their encounters across eight different World Cups (1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023).

Although mending political ties is beyond the scope of both the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), both boards continue to suffer financial setbacks as the BCCI’s is yet to pay a return visit to Pakistan’s 2012-13 tour comprising white-ball matches. The ICC’s format overhaul to maximise revenues is a stark reminder of the financial windfall both boards could have enjoyed had they continued their home-and-away policy from 2003-2009.

This ongoing standoff not only impacts the bottom line but has also slowed the growth of the game in the region, widening the performance gap between India and other Test-playing nations.

Pakistan and India may not fulfill the ICC’s ultimate dream of a triple-header finale on current form, but the ICC deserves credit for its creative structuring to maximise revenue. Now, it is time for the PCB to truly understand its own value to the global game.

Despite recent mediocre performances, Pakistan remains the essential other half of cricket’s most lucrative equation. It is time the PCB stops acting like a participant and starts negotiating like a partner.