India's road to 2027 ODI World Cup already underway, says BCCI Secretary Saikia
Guwahati, June 21
The Board of Control of Cricket in India Secretary Devajit Saikia stressed that India's road to the 2027 ODI World Cup has already begun, with the board prioritising sustained preparation, squad development and strategic planning through a packed ODI schedule.
The 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup is provisionally scheduled to be held from October 4 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
The dates were agreed upon during the ICC board meeting in Ahmedabad in May, with final confirmation expected at the ICC Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh in July.
The BCCI on Sunday also announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, beginning on July 16.
"BCCI is planning a pathway running up to the 2027 ODI World Cup in October-November, and we have a sufficient number of matches till then. We have announced the team for the 3 ODI matches in England to be held from 14th to 19th July... The selectors are on board along with the support staff and head coach," Saikia told the reporters.
The 2027 ODI World Cup will mark the first men's tournament in Africa since 2003. South Africa has, however, hosted the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2009 Champions Trophy, and 2023 Women's T20 World Cup.
Zimbabwe and Namibia recently co-hosted the Under-19 Men's World Cup.
The tournament will return to a 14-team format after the previous two editions featured 10 teams. Teams will be divided into two groups of seven, with the top three from each group advancing to the Super Six stage.
South Africa and Zimbabwe, as Full Members, automatically qualify, while Namibia must go through the qualification process.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I appreciate the BCCI's proactive approach, but I hope the packed schedule doesn't lead to player burnout. With the IPL and so many bilateral series, we need to carefully manage the workload of key players. A long-term plan is good, but player fitness is the cornerstone of success. Let's hope the support staff gets that right. 🤞
Good to see the BCCI planning this far ahead. The 14-team format with the Super Six stage is interesting—it makes the group stage more competitive. For India, it's about finding the right balance between youth and experience. I'm keen to see how the squad evolves over the next two years.
Waah! Africa is hosting the men's World Cup after 24 years! I'm excited for the conditions there—it will test our batsmen against pace and bounce, and our spinners in different conditions. But my only concern is the travel logistics. Hope the team management has a solid plan for acclimatisation and rest. 🌍
Respectfully, I think we should also focus on domestic cricket—the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Deodhar Trophy need to be made more relevant to ODI cricket. The BCCI talks about the pathway, but unless the domestic structure feeds into international cricket properly, the strategy might fall short. Just a thought. 🤔
Honestly, this is a great initiative! The 2023 final loss still stings, but knowing the BCCI is already thinking about the next cycle gives me hope. The England series will be a good litmus
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