Sports/Alive News: The India-Pakistan clash in the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup has generated unprecedented demand, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) receiving nearly 84 lakh ticket applications for the group-stage match scheduled for October 10 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to a BBC report, the match will be played at the Wanderers Stadium, which has a seating capacity of around 34,000. The number of applications is nearly 247 times the available seats.
The ICC confirmed that it received 83,97,294 ticket applications for the high-profile encounter, making it the most sought-after fixture of the tournament. The World Cup final, scheduled for November 21 at the same venue, has also attracted significant interest, with 79,00,944 applications.
The 2027 World Cup will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The tournament will begin on October 7, with the opening match featuring Australia and India, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.
India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group alongside Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and a qualifying team. Under the tournament format, the two sides could meet up to three times if both progress to the later stages.
The ticket application window will remain open until November 21, 2026. If applications exceed the available seats, successful applicants will be selected through a computerised lottery. The system is not based on first-come, first-served bookings.
The ICC has previously used ballot systems to distribute tickets for major international tournaments, including the 2011 and 2019 ODI World Cups.
