ISLAMABAD: The new format for the 2027 ODI World Cup has opened the possibility of traditional rivals Pakistan and India facing each other as many as three times in the same tournament.
Pakistan and India have been placed in Group A alongside defending champions Australia, Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and one qualifier.
The two arch-rivals are expected to face each other during the group stage phase on October 10 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
According to the new tournament format, the top three teams of each group along with the higher-ranked fourth-placed team from the two groups will qualify for the Super 7 phase.
If Pakistan and India manage to make it through to the Super 7 phase, then they might face each other once again on November 7 in Cape Town.
A third meeting between the two sides is possible if they get into the knock-out phase and end up playing against each other either in the semi-final or final.
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The possibility of multiple Pakistan-India clashes comes after reports that the two teams could also face each other more than once in the upcoming Asia Cup, potentially resulting in several high-profile encounters between the rivals within a matter of months.
For now, Pakistan and India are set to meet next in the Asian Games gold-medal match in Japan on October 3 at 9:30 a.m.
