The group-stage match between India and Pakistan at the 2027 Cricket World Cup has drawn a record number of ticket requests, outpacing even the tournament final, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In a statement on Monday, the ICC said the match between the two South Asian rivals, scheduled for 10 October 2027 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, had attracted 8.4 million ticket requests. That is higher than the nearly 8 million requests for the final on 21 November in the same city.
It is the fourth consecutive 50-over World Cup in which a group-stage meeting between India and Pakistan has been guaranteed by the draw, a practice that sets cricket apart from many other major global sporting events.
The two sides could meet again in the Super Seven stage and a third time in the final if both qualify for the last match.
The 2027 tournament features 12 teams split into two groups:
Group A: Australia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and one qualifier.
Group B: New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and one qualifier.
A total of 57 matches will be played at 12 venues across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from 7 October to 21 November 2027.
The online ticket registration window opened on 1 October and will close at midnight Central Africa Time (22:00 GMT) on 21 November. According to the ICC, total ticket requests passed 120 million on Sunday, coming from 2.8 million distinct fan accounts in 193 countries.
Applications from South Africa, England, India, the United States and Australia led the volume. African fans, including those in the host nations, accounted for 14.9 million applications.
Namibia will host ICC Men's Cricket World Cup matches for the first time, while Zimbabwe debuts a new stadium at Victoria Falls.
It marks the World Cup's return to Africa after 24 years, since 2003 when South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya co-hosted. Six years later, South Africa staged the ICC Champions Trophy, which Australia won by beating India at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Australia were also the 2003 champions, defeating India by 125 runs in the final at the Wanderers. In 2007, South Africa hosted the first ICC Men's T20 World Cup, when India beat Pakistan in a dramatic final, also at the Wanderers.
