ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027: England avoid tough draw
England avoid Australia and India in the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup group stage, opening their campaign against Bangladesh on October 8.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- England are drawn alongside co-hosts South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and a qualifier.
- The team successfully avoids defending champions Australia and top-ranked India in the group stage.
- Harry Brook's side will kick off their tournament campaign against Bangladesh on October 8, 2027.
- England are set to travel to Zimbabwe for a fixture for the first time since 2004.
The group-stage draw for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 has officially been unveiled, delivering a major boost to the England national cricket team. Led by captain Harry Brook, the squad has successfully avoided reigning champions Australia and the world's top-ranked side, India, in the opening phase of the tournament.
England, who lifted the coveted trophy back in 2019, find themselves placed in Group B alongside tournament co-hosts South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and an upcoming qualifier. This presents an intriguing pathway for the English side, who have experienced a notable resurgence in the 50-over format recently.
Meanwhile, arch-rivals India and Pakistan have once again been drawn into the same group, alongside Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and a qualifier. The tournament group stage will get underway with a blockbuster rematch of the 2023 final between India and Australia in Cape Town on October 7.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Looking at England's specific schedule, the team will begin their campaign against Bangladesh on October 8, followed by a clash against Sri Lanka on October 13 in Windhoek, Namibia. They will then face South Africa in Gqeberha on October 16, before traveling to Harare to take on a qualifier on October 20. Their group fixtures conclude with a match against New Zealand, once again in Gqeberha, on October 23.
The upcoming visit to Zimbabwe holds considerable historical significance, as the England men's team has not played a match in the country since 2004. Political instability and unrest under former president Robert Mugabe created persistent logistical and diplomatic hurdles for English cricket throughout the 2000s, most notably when England boycotted their fixture in Harare during the 2003 World Cup—a decision that ultimately derailed their tournament ambitions. Diplomatic ties have warmed in recent years, however, with BBC Sport reporting in 2025 that the respective cricket boards discussed potential touring arrangements for the 2027 to 2031 international cycle.
Following the conclusion of the preliminary qualification matches, the top three teams, along with the best fourth-placed finisher from both groups, will advance to the Super 7 stage. From there, the four leading teams will contest the semi-finals on November 17 and 18, culminating in the grand final on November 21 in Johannesburg.
Source: BBC Sport
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