New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- Along expected lines, India and Pakistan have been paired in Group A for the 2027 ODI World Cup to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from Oct 2 to Nov 21. Afghanistan, Australia, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A are the others in India's group. Bangladesh, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Qualifier B are in Group B. India play their opener against defending champions Australia on Octo 7 at Cape Town. Pakistan are up next on October 10 at the Wanderers, Johannesburg. Shubman Gill's men then play Afghanistan, Qualifier A and Zimbabwe on October 14, 17 and 24 respectively. The scheduling is such that India and Pakistan can play thrice, subject to their qualifying for the Super 7, the semis and the final. ICC chair Jay Shah said: "The announcement of the schedule and opening of the ticket ballot are major milestones on the road to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, bringing fans one step closer to a spectacular celebration of cricket across the three nations. "The ICC remains committed to making its World Cup events accessible to as many fans as possible, with affordable ticket prices and options that bring families, young people and local communities closer to the action. "South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will provide an unforgettable stage for the world's best teams, combining a deep passion for cricket, extraordinary destinations and a renowned warmth of welcome. We look forward to welcoming fans from across the world and creating memories that will last long beyond the final." The 2027 World Cup will have 12 teams in the main event. The tournament starts with a Super Series, with the second, third and fourth-placed teams from the ICC World Qualifier in Feb-Mar featuring in it. After the conclusion of group league stages, the Super 7s will start from October 25 with the top three teams from each group and the better placed fourth team among the two groups qualifying for the next stage. India have been classified as A1 with Australia as A2 and Pakistan being named A3.England is B4 while New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka are B1, B2 and B3 respectively. If any of these teams fail to qualify, the team that qualifies will automatically receive that classification. If India and Pakistan qualify for the Super 7s, they will once again meet on November 7 in Cape Town. The final will be played at the Wanderers on November 21....