England Avoid Australia, India in 2027 Cricket World Cup Draw
The 2019 champions will face co-hosts South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand in their group.
England have been drawn in a group alongside co-hosts South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, avoiding tournament favorites Australia and world number one India in the group stage.
The draw places India and Pakistan, who do not play each other outside of ICC events, in the same group as Australia, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe. The tournament's group stage will commence with a rematch of the 2023 final between India and Australia in Cape Town on October 7.
England's campaign begins on October 8 against Bangladesh in Windhoek, Namibia, followed by a match against Sri Lanka on October 13. They will then face South Africa in Gqeberha on October 16, and a qualifier on October 20 in Harare.
Their final group game is against New Zealand, also in Gqeberha, on October 23. This will be England's first match against Zimbabwe since 2004. Political tensions during the Robert Mugabe era led to England boycotting a fixture against Zimbabwe in Harare at the 2003 World Cup, a decision that significantly impacted their tournament run. Relations have since improved between the two nations and their respective cricket boards.
The top three teams from each of the two groups, along with the best fourth-placed finisher, will advance to the Super 7 stage. The top four teams from the Super 7 will then qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for November 17 and 18. The tournament final is set for November 21 in Johannesburg.