Zimbabwe To Open World Cup Campaign Against Afghanistan As 2027 Fixtures Are Confirmed

Zimbabwe will begin their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 campaign against Afghanistan in Bulawayo after the International Cricket Council released the full schedule for the tournament to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia.

The Chevrons will play their opening match on 11 October 2027, with Bulawayo hosting the encounter as Zimbabwe begin their bid for success on home soil.

Zimbabwe will be one of 14 teams competing at the tournament and have qualified directly as co-hosts. Their Group A campaign will also feature meetings with Australia, Pakistan, India and one of the teams emerging from the qualifying process.

The tournament gets underway on 2 October 2027, when the three-team Super Series begins in Windhoek to determine the final Group Stage participant. The Super Series will feature the second-, third- and fourth-placed teams from the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, with the winner earning the remaining group-stage place.

For Zimbabwe, the first major home fixture will come against Afghanistan in Bulawayo on 11 October, before the Chevrons face Australia in Harare on 15 October.

Zimbabwe will then meet Pakistan in Harare on 19 October, giving local supporters the opportunity to watch another major cricketing nation on home soil.

The group stage will conclude with Zimbabwe facing India at the new Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls on 24 October.

The schedule means Zimbabwe will have a significant presence across the country’s three designated World Cup venues, with matches in Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls.

The Chevrons are placed in Group A alongside India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Qualifier A. Group B consists of New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.

Group-stage action begins on 7 October in Cape Town when defending champions Australia face India in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.

South Africa will begin their campaign against New Zealand on 9 October in Cape Town, while Zimbabwe’s tournament will get underway two days later against Afghanistan.

The 2027 edition introduces a Super 7 phase after the group stage. The top three teams from each group will progress, joined by the fourth-placed team with the better record between the two groups.

Unlike some previous tournament formats, teams will not carry their group-stage points into the Super 7 phase. Each of the seven teams will play six matches between 25 October and 14 November.

The top four teams at the end of the Super 7 stage will advance to the semi-finals.

The first semi-final is scheduled for Cape Town on 17 November, with the second taking place in Tshwane on 18 November. Both semi-finals will have reserve days.

The World Cup final will be staged in Johannesburg on 21 November, with 22 November reserved as a backup date if required.

Zimbabwe’s participation as co-hosts will also give the country the opportunity to showcase its cricket facilities on the global stage.

Harare and Bulawayo will host group-stage matches, while the newly included Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls will stage both group and Super 7 fixtures.

The Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek will host the three Super Series matches as well as three group-stage encounters, while eight venues across South Africa will also be used during the tournament.

With the schedule now confirmed, Zimbabwe have a clear roadmap towards a home World Cup campaign that will begin with Afghanistan before bringing Australia and Pakistan to Harare and India to Victoria Falls.

The Chevrons will therefore have plenty of opportunities to play in front of home support as they attempt to navigate one of cricket’s biggest tournaments and make the most of hosting the competition.