The addition of an extra team to the round-robin stage has increased the likelihood of another Pakistan-India clash, raising the prospect of the arch-rivals facing each other more than once during the tournament.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday unveiled a revised format for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup that could increase the chances of an additional clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India during the tournament.
Although the World Cup, to be hosted in southern Africa, will remain a 14-team event, the competition will feature a new structure. Under the revised format, the three lowest-ranked qualifying teams will compete in a preliminary round, with only one side advancing to join the other 11 teams in the 12-team main round-robin stage.
The expanded round-robin format raises the possibility of Pakistan and India meeting more than once before the knockout phase, depending on the tournament schedule and results.
The revised World Cup format will feature two groups of six teams, followed by a new “Super Seven” stage that replaces the previous “Super Six” round-robin phase.
However, the tournament will no longer include quarter-finals, removing the added excitement and uncertainty that comes with another knockout stage.
The inclusion of an additional team in the round-robin phase could increase the possibility of an extra Pakistan-India encounter. Matches between the two neighbouring rivals are among the most commercially valuable in cricket due to the massive fan base in the subcontinent and the significant broadcast and sponsorship revenues they generate for the ICC.
However, India and Pakistan currently face each other only in ICC tournaments, as political tensions between the two countries have prevented regular bilateral series. The last bilateral series between the sides in Pakistan was played in 2006, featuring both Test and ODI matches.
The ICC said the new World Cup structure would provide “greater context, competitiveness and consequence” throughout the tournament.
Meanwhile, another decision approved at the ICC board meeting in Edinburgh confirmed that the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup will continue as a 20-team event. The number of teams advancing from the group stage will increase from eight to 10.
Under the new format, the top two teams in the “Super 10” stage will qualify directly for the semi-finals, while an eliminator round will determine the remaining semi-finalists.
