The 1992 world champions Pakistan have been drawn alongside arch-rivals India in Group A for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2027, setting the stage for a marquee Pakistan-India blockbuster at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday, 10 October.

The Men in Green will launch their World Cup campaign two days earlier when they take on regional rivals Afghanistan at SuperSport Park in Tshwane on 8 October, the second day of the tournament. The global showpiece officially gets underway in Cape Town on 7 October with defending champions Australia facing co-hosts South Africa.

The high-octane 10 October contest will mark the fourth time Pakistan and India face off in an ICC tournament on South African soil. The Wanderers holds memorable history for the rivalry, having hosted the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 final between the two sides in September 2007, following their tied group fixture in Durban.

Two years later, the same Johannesburg venue witnessed Shoaib Malik’s match-winning century that steered Pakistan to a famous victory over India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009.

In 50-over World Cup cricket, the two sides previously met in South Africa during the 2003 edition at Centurion, where Pakistan suffered a defeat and bowed out in the opening round while India marched into the final.

Should both subcontinental powerhouses navigate the opening stage and qualify for the newly designed Super-7 phase, a second guaranteed Pakistan-India showdown is scheduled for 7 November at Newlands in Cape Town.

A historic third meeting could also materialize in the final on 21 November at The Wanderers.

Under the competition regulations, the team topping the Super-7 standings meets the fourth-placed side in the first semi-final, while the second and third seeds contest the second semi-final. If Pakistan and India both advance to the final from opposite sides of the knockout bracket, it would mark the first time in the 52-year history of the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup that the arch-rivals contest the title match.

Pakistan’s Group A campaign is packed with high-profile tests across South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Following their opening fixture against Afghanistan on 8 October in Tshwane and the marquee Pakistan-India clash on 10 October in Johannesburg, Pakistan will travel to Bloemfontein to face the top qualifier from Group A on 15 October. They then head to Harare to meet Zimbabwe on 19 October, before concluding their group assignments against Australia in Paarl on 22 October.

Group A comprises Pakistan, India, Australia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and the top-finishing qualifier from Group A of the ICC World Cup Qualifier. Group B includes New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, and the Group B qualifier. The 10-team qualifying tournament will feature the West Indies, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland, Nepal, Namibia, Oman, UAE, Canada, and the United States, with three warmup Super Series matches taking place from 2 to 6 October.

To streamline travel and broadcast schedules, the ICC has pre-seeded the top nations for the Super-7 round.

Pakistan have been allocated seed A3, India are seeded A1, and Australia occupy seed A2 in Group A. Group B seeds feature New Zealand as B1, South Africa as B2, and Sri Lanka as B3, with England holding the cross-pool allocation AB4. Under ICC tournament regulations, if an unseeded nation finishes in a qualification spot and displaces a pre-seeded team, the qualifying team assumes that specific seed.

For Pakistan, securing qualification means entering the Super-7 as seed A3 regardless of their numerical finish in the group table.

Their projected Super-7 itinerary would be as follows:

26 Oct – vs B1 (New Zealand), Gqeberha

30 Oct – v AB4 (England), Victoria Falls

3 Nov – v B2 (South Africa), Durban

7 Nov – v A1 (India), Cape Town

10 Nov – v B3 (Sri Lanka), Bloemfontein

13 Nov – A2 (Australia), Bloemfontein

The top four teams emerging from the Super-7 round robin will progress to the knockout stage.

Cape Town will stage the first semi-final on 17 November, while Tshwane hosts the second semi-final on 18 November. The Wanderers in Johannesburg will host the World Cup final on 21 November, where Pakistan will look to replicate their historic 1992 triumph on cricket’s grandest stage.

Pakistan’s matches at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027:

Group Stage

8 Oct – Pakistan v Afghanistan, Tshwane

10 Oct – India v Pakistan, Johannesburg

15 Oct – Pakistan v Qualifier A, Bloemfontein

19 Oct – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Harare

22 Oct – Pakistan v Australia, Paarl

Super 7 Stage (current seeded team in brackets)

26 Oct – vs B1 (New Zealand), Gqeberha