New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- for the first time in World Cup history, there are no quarter-finals.

The format change compresses the margin for error to something close to nothing. Sixteen teams divide into four pools of four for Phase 1, running August 15 through 20. Pool finishes from that stage determine entry into one of four crossover pools, labeled E through H, in Phase 2, which runs August 21 through 24. Head-to-head results from Phase 1 carry forward into the crossover phase. Only the top two teams from Pools E and F advance to the semifinals. Phase 3 semifinal play begins August 27. The men's gold medal match takes place August 30.

India and Pakistan will contest Pool D knowing that the path from third place in their group runs through...