ICC men's WC 2027 fixture announced: Tigers in Group B with England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka

Bangladesh has been put in Group B along with England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka as the International Cricket Council (ICC) today (2 October) announced the schedule for the Men's Cricket World Cup 2027.

The tournament, set to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, will begin on 2 October with the commencement of the three-team Super Series in Windhoek -- which will decide the final Group Stage team, according to ICC.

The 12 remaining teams at the tournament will be split into two groups of six.

Group A currently consists of India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe.

The group stage action begins on 7 October 2027 in Cape Town with a repeat of the 2023 final as defending champions Australia take on India.

Bangladesh will officially kick-off their campaign on 8 October with the first group match against England in Windhoek.

After that, the Tigers will faceoff against New Zealand on 12 October, Sri Lanka on 16 October, South Africa on 19 October, and Qualifier B on 23 October.

Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe begin their campaigns on 9 October and 11 October, respectively. South Africa will take on New Zealand in Cape Town, with Zimbabwe meeting Afghanistan in Bulawayo.

Of the 14 teams at the tournament, South Africa and Zimbabwe qualified directly as hosts, alongside the best eight teams on the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings at the 30 September 2026 as cut-off.

The remaining four spots will be decided at the World Cup qualifier. The top-placed finisher goes directly to the Group Stage while the other three teams compete in the Super Series for a Group Stage spot.

The top three teams of each group will move into the Super 7 phase, with the better fourth-place finisher across the two groups taking the seventh spot.

The top four teams after the Super 7 phase progress to the semi-finals. The team finishing top of the Super 7 standings will face fourth, with the second and third-placed teams going head-to-head.

The first semi-final will be played on 17 November in Cape Town and 18 November in Tshwane. The final is billed for 21 November in Johannesburg, with 22 November set as a reserve day if necessary.

There will be a lot of eyes looking to Namibia, with three high-stakes Super Series fixtures on 2, 4, and 6 October played by the second, third, and fourth-placed finishers of Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2027.

Through a single round robin format, the team finishing top of the Super Series will claim the final group stage spot.

The much-anticipated India-Pakistan match will be played on 10 October in Johannesburg.

Excited by the prospect of long-lasting memories in next year's competition, ICC Chairman Jay Shah in a statement said, "The ICC remains committed to making its World Cup events accessible to as many fans as possible, with affordable ticket prices and options that bring families, young people, and local communities closer to the action.

"South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will provide an unforgettable stage for the world's best teams, combining a deep passion for cricket, extraordinary destinations and a renowned warmth of welcome. We look forward to welcoming fans from across the world and creating memories that will last long beyond the final."

Tickets and venues

The ICC has also opened the ticket ballot, giving fans around the world the chance to register for an opportunity to secure their place at the event.

Fans are encouraged to enter the ballot and take their first step towards being part of the action, with ticket prices ranging from US$9.62 (R158) for entry-level tickets to US$31.31 (R514) for the highest-tier matches.

Special consideration has also been given to family bundles, student and pensioner pricing, early-bird local allocations, and community club and school group pricing.

A total of 12 venues will play host to the tournament.

The Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek plays host to the three Super Series matches and three group games, with three venues in Zimbabwe and eight in South Africa.

The Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls joins Harare and Bulawayo, while in South Africa, matches will be held in Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Bloemfontein, Durban, KuGompo City, and Gqeberha.