Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has taken a cheeky dig at Pakistan after the ICC announced the schedule and format for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Speaking on Star Sports, Patel suggested that Pakistan may see reaching the newly introduced Super 7 stage as their primary target.
The highly anticipated tournament will feature 12 teams split into two six-team groups, with the top three from each group and the best fourth-placed side advancing to the Super 7 stage. India and Pakistan are both in Group A along with Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Qualifier A.
Parthiv Patel Takes Dig at Pakistan's World Cup Ambitions
Parthiv Patel suggested that India would enter the tournament targeting a place in the semi-finals, while the Men in Green could be more focused on getting through the first stage.
“Teams think differently according to their mindset. India must be thinking that they will at least reach the semi-finals. Meanwhile, after looking at this schedule, Pakistan must be thinking, ‘We will surely reach the Super 7 stage, and then we will see what happens from there.’
“Pakistan must be happy to see this schedule. They must be thinking that they will make it to the second round,” Patel said.
The ICC confirmed the tournament structure on Thursday. As per the schedule, the 2027 World Cup will be played from October 2 to November 21, with the main group stage beginning on October 7.
How the New Super 7 Format Will Work
Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside India, Australia, Afghanistan and co-hosts Zimbabwe, with Qualifier A completing the six-team group. Group B will contain the remaining six teams.
The top three teams from each group will progress to the Super 7 phase. The final place will go to the best fourth-placed team across the two groups.
Unlike a conventional league format, teams will start the Super 7 phase without carrying points from the group stage. Each team will play six matches in a fresh round-robin competition between October 25 and November 14. The top four teams at the end of the Super 7 stage will qualify for the semi-finals.
The Men in Green will aim to improve on their 2023 World Cup campaign, when they finished fifth after winning four and losing five of their nine matches. Australia went on to win the tournament, defeating India by six wickets in the final in Ahmedabad.
India, Pakistan Set for Blockbuster World Cup Meeting
India will take on defending champions Australia in Cape Town on October 7. The fixture will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.
South Africa will begin their campaign against New Zealand in Cape Town on October 9, while co-hosts Zimbabwe will face Qualifier A in Bulawayo on the same day.
India will take on the Men in Green at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on October 10. The match will be one of the most anticipated contests of the group stage and will give the arch-rivals an early opportunity to strengthen their position in the race for the Super 7.
India have enjoyed memorable results in major ICC tournaments hosted in South Africa. They reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup, which was hosted by South Africa, before returning to the country four years later and winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.
