The tournament at a glance
The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 is the first men's World Cup in Africa since 2003. It opens with a Super Series in Windhoek, Namibia (2–6 October, three matches), then the group stage (7–24 October, 30 matches), then the Super 7 (25 October–14 November, 21 matches), the semi-finals on 17 November in Cape Town and 18 November in Centurion, and the final on Sunday 21 November at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, with a reserve day on Monday 22 November. South Africa hosts eight of the 12 venues, Zimbabwe three, and Namibia one. The final four places in the tournament are decided at the World Cup Qualifier in February–March 2027.
Pakistan's group fixtures
Pakistan are in Group A, pre-seeded A3. All five group matches start at 10:00 SAST (UTC+2):
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 8 Oct 2027 | Pakistan v Afghanistan | SuperSport Park, Centurion |
| Sun 10 Oct 2027 | India v Pakistan | Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| Fri 15 Oct 2027 | Pakistan v Qualifier A | Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein |
| Mon 19 Oct 2027 | Zimbabwe v Pakistan | Harare Sports Club, Harare |
| Fri 22 Oct 2027 | Australia v Pakistan | Boland Park, Paarl |
If Pakistan finish in the top three of Group A and reach the Super 7, the road continues: 26 October vs New Zealand in Gqeberha, 30 October vs England at Victoria Falls, 3 November vs South Africa in Durban, 7 November vs India at Newlands, Cape Town, 10 November vs Sri Lanka in Bloemfontein, and 13 November vs Australia in Bloemfontein. That second India vs Pakistan — 7 November at Newlands, under Table Mountain — would be the match of the Super 7.
The venues and the best bases
Pakistan's group games alone cover five cities in two countries, so pick your base by the matches you are chasing:
- Johannesburg — the main base. Wanderers Stadium hosts six matches including the final, and Centurion (Pakistan's opener) is a short trip north. Fly into O.R. Tambo, stay in Sandton or Rosebank, and use the Gautrain.
- Cape Town — Newlands hosts six matches including the first semi-final on 17 November, and it is the most beautiful ground in world cricket, with Table Mountain behind it. Stay near the city centre or Sea Point.
- Durban — Kingsmead hosts six matches including a Super 7 game against South Africa on 3 November. Durban has the largest Muslim community in South Africa, the warmest weather of the three big cities, and halal food everywhere.
- Harare and Victoria Falls — Pakistan play Zimbabwe in Harare on 19 October, and a Super 7 game at Victoria Falls would be the trip of a lifetime. Both need their own visa arrangements — see below.
- Windhoek — the Super Series opener (2–6 October) is in Namibia, for fans who want to be there from the very first ball.
Flights: getting there from Pakistan
There are no direct flights from Pakistan to South Africa. The realistic routings all connect once — via Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Addis Ababa — landing at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. From there, domestic flights connect Johannesburg with Cape Town (about two hours) and Durban, and the Gautrain runs from the airport to Sandton. Book domestic legs early around the big matches: Johannesburg–Cape Town on the weekend of 7 November, when India and Pakistan could meet again, will be one of the busiest domestic routes of the tournament.
Visa: what Pakistani passport holders need
Pakistani citizens need a visa for South Africa — there is no visa on arrival. Pakistan is on South Africa's eVisa list, so apply online through the Department of Home Affairs eVisa portal several weeks before you travel. South Africa asks for a passport valid at least 30 days after you leave, with two blank pages, plus proof you can support yourself — typically three months of bank statements — and your accommodation booking or return ticket. The newer Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), launched in October 2025, covers China, India, Indonesia and Mexico — Pakistan is not on the ETA list, so the eVisa is the route. And Pakistani passport holders have needed a transit visa even for airside connections at South African airports, so check the current transit rule before booking a connecting flight.
Zimbabwe and Namibia have their own visa rules, separate from South Africa's. If you add Harare, Victoria Falls or Windhoek to your trip, check each country's official visa page before you book — do not assume the South African eVisa covers them.
Halal food and mosques
South Africa is one of the easiest countries in the world for a Muslim traveller to eat well — and the World Cup cities are the best of it:
- Johannesburg: Fordsburg, known as Little India, has halal restaurants, butchers and mosques; Mayfair has halal Turkish and Pakistani food, including the fully halal Turkish Kebab House and Butchery.
- Cape Town: the Bo-Kaap is the historic Muslim Quarter — predominantly Muslim, so everything there is halal. Try Biesmielah Restaurant on Wale Street for Cape Malay food, the Eastern Food Bazaar for a budget meal, and Bo-Kaap Kombuis for a traditional Malay dinner. The Auwal Mosque in Bo-Kaap is the oldest mosque in South Africa.
- Durban: home to the largest Indian-Muslim community in the country — halal Indian restaurants and curry houses are everywhere, and the Juma Mosque on Grey Street anchors the city centre.
- Everywhere: look for SANHA or MJC halal certification, South Africa's two main certifiers, and ask at the branch — many Nando's outlets are halal while some are not. The Nizamiye Mosque in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, is the largest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere.
Money, weather and staying safe
South Africa uses the rand (ZAR). Work out your trip total in rand first, then run it through our currency converter to see the real number in rupees — and if you are saving month by month, our savings goal calculator turns the total and the date into a weekly or monthly amount. October and November are spring in South Africa: warm days, cool evenings, and Cape Town's famous wind — pack a light layer and sun protection. For safety, use the same rules as in any big city: trusted transport and ride-hailing, don't walk alone at night in unfamiliar areas, and keep valuables out of sight. The days-between-dates calculator counts down to 2 October 2027, the first ball of the tournament.
❓ Cricket World Cup 2027 Pakistani Fans FAQs
When is the Cricket World Cup 2027?
From Friday 2 October to Sunday 21 November 2027, in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The final is on Sunday 21 November at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, with a reserve day on Monday 22 November.
Where does Pakistan play in the group stage?
Pakistan play five group matches: 8 October vs Afghanistan in Centurion, 10 October vs India in Johannesburg, 15 October vs a qualifier in Bloemfontein, 19 October vs Zimbabwe in Harare, and 22 October vs Australia in Paarl. All five start at 10:00 SAST.
Do Pakistani citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Yes. Pakistani passport holders need a visa, and Pakistan is on South Africa's eVisa list, so you apply online through the Department of Home Affairs eVisa portal well before you travel. There is no visa on arrival, and the newer ETA system does not cover Pakistani passports.
How do I fly from Pakistan to South Africa?
There are no direct flights. Connect once via Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Addis Ababa into O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, then take domestic flights to Cape Town or Durban. Johannesburg to Cape Town is about a two-hour flight.
Which city should I base myself in?
Johannesburg for the most matches and the final, Cape Town for Newlands and the first semi-final, and Durban for the warmest weather and the most halal food. Most fans chasing Pakistan's group games will spend the most time in Johannesburg.
Is halal food easy to find in South Africa?
Yes, in the big cities. Johannesburg has Fordsburg and Mayfair, Cape Town has the Bo-Kaap Muslim Quarter where everything is halal, and Durban has the largest Muslim community in the country with halal food everywhere. Look for SANHA or MJC halal certification.
Do I need a separate visa for Zimbabwe or Namibia?
Yes. Zimbabwe and Namibia have their own visa rules, separate from South Africa's. Check each country's official visa page before you add Harare, Victoria Falls or Windhoek to your trip.
How do tickets for the 2027 World Cup work?
Tickets are sold through the ICC's official ticket ballot, which opened on 1 October 2026 and closes at 23:59 SAST on 21 November 2026. There is no general public sale. This guide links no ticket sellers.
More Cricket World Cup 2027 guides: India vs Pakistan Johannesburg Travel Guide · Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule & Venues
Sources
- ICC — "ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule revealed and ballot system opens", 1 October 2026: icc-cricket.com
- Department of Home Affairs, Republic of South Africa — eVisa portal: ehome.dha.gov.za
- ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule reference (fixtures cross-checked with Wikipedia), compiled 27 October 2026: talent-hunt.net
- Muslim travel guide to South Africa — halal food and mosques: tayyebahacademy.com
- Halal food in South Africa — city-by-city guide: halaltravelpal.com
- Biesmielah Restaurant, Cape Town — halal listing: zabihah.com