England have been drawn in a group alongside co-hosts South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and a qualifier for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Harry Brook’s team, winners in 2019, will avoid defending champions Australia and top-ranked India during the initial phase of the tournament.
England’s campaign begins in Windhoek, Namibia, where they face Bangladesh on 8 October followed by Sri Lanka on 13 October. The squad then moves to Gqeberha to play South Africa on 16 October, followed by a trip to Harare for a match against a qualifier on 20 October. They conclude their group stage back in Gqeberha against New Zealand on 23 October. Who have enjoyed a resurgence in the 50-over format, begin their campaign against Bangladesh on 8 October, and Sri Lanka on 13 October in Windhoek, Namibia, harry Brook’s side.
The scheduled visit to Harare marks a notable return for England, who have not played in Zimbabwe since 2004. Their previous history there was impacted by political tensions during the Robert Mugabe era, including a controversial 2003 World Cup boycott that hampered England’s tournament progress. Diplomatic and sporting relations have since thawed, with discussions reportedly underway regarding a potential England tour of the country between 2027 and 2031. Political unrest in Zimbabwe under the regime of former president Robert Mugabe caused problems for England’s men’s team throughout the 2000s.
The tournament structure sees Australia and India placed in the other group, joined by Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and one final qualifier. The group stage commences with a high-profile rematch of the 2023 final between India and Australia in Cape Town on 7 October. India and Pakistan are also set for a group-stage showdown in Johannesburg on 10 October.
Progressing through the competition, the top three teams from each group, plus the strongest fourth-placed side, will advance to the Super 7 stage. From there, the four highest-ranked teams will proceed to the semi-finals on 17 and 18 November. The tournament concludes with the final, which is slated for 21 November in Johannesburg.
