Bangladesh handed tough group with England, South Africa for 2027 World Cup
Bangladesh have been drawn into a demanding group for next year's ICC Cricket World Cup, with the International Cricket Council confirming the preliminary groupings on social media on Thursday.
The 50-over tournament, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will see Bangladesh placed in Group B alongside England, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. A sixth side, Qualifier B, will join the group after coming through the preliminary round.
Group A, by contrast, brings together arch-rivals India and Pakistan, who will also face Australia, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, along with Qualifier A once that spot is confirmed through the qualifying process.
The tournament's format has been restructured for 2027 and will unfold across three distinct stages before the knockout rounds begin. It opens with a Super Series featuring the three lowest-ranked sides among the 14 qualified teams.
The second stage then sees 12 teams split into two groups of six, playing a round-robin schedule totalling 30 matches. From each group, the top three sides advance, joined by the next-best team across both tables on points.
Those eight qualifiers progress to a Super Seven stage, where 21 further matches will be played in a round-robin format. The top four finishers from that phase go through to the semi-finals.
At the semi-final stage, the leading side in the Super Seven standings meets the fourth-placed team, while the second and third-placed sides face off, with the two winners meeting in the final.
The tournament gets under way on October 7 in Cape Town, with holders India taking on Australia in a repeat of the previous World Cup final. India will then renew their rivalry with Pakistan on October 10.
Bangladesh begin their campaign against England before facing New Zealand on October 12. They will then play Sri Lanka on October 16, hosts South Africa on October 19, and the Super Series qualifier on October 23 to round off their group fixtures.
Group A: Afghanistan, Australia, India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Qualifier A
Group B: Bangladesh, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Qualifier B