Revised World Cup Format Could Lead to Extra Pakistan-India Match

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a revamped format for the men’s 2027 One Day International (ODI) World Cup, which could potentially lead to an additional fixture between arch-rivals Pakistan and India. The next edition, to be held in South Africa, will remain a 14-team competition.

Under the new structure, the three lowest-ranked qualifiers will participate in a preliminary round, with only one team advancing to a 12-strong main group stage. This main stage will now feature two pools of six teams. A new ‘super seven’ stage will replace the previous ‘super six’ round-robin format. Notably, the tournament will no longer include quarter-finals.

The inclusion of an additional team in the round-robin phase significantly increases the likelihood of an extra match between India and Pakistan. However, due to political tensions between the bordering nations, India and Pakistan currently do not play outside of ICC events, with their respective governments effectively barring bilateral series. The last bilateral series India played in Pakistan was in 2006, which included both Test and ODI matches.

The ICC stated that the new World Cup structure is designed to create “greater context, competitiveness and consequence during the event.”

In a separate decision made at the ICC’s recent board meeting in Edinburgh, the next men’s T20 World Cup in 2028 will maintain its 20-team competition format. However, 10 sides will now qualify from the group stage, an increase from the previous eight. The two best-performing teams in the ‘Super 10’ stage will automatically secure a semi-final spot, with a new eliminator stage determining their opponents.

Pakistan News will update this story as more confirmed details become available.