Cricket fans have flooded the ticket ballot for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, with more than one million ticket applications submitted in less than three days after registrations opened on 1 October.
The scale of early demand provides an indication of the interest building around the first men's Cricket World Cup to be hosted in Africa in two decades, with the tournament scheduled to take place from 2 October to 21 November 2027.
The ticket ballot remains open, giving fans an opportunity to register for a chance to purchase tickets rather than tickets being allocated solely on a first-come, first-served basis.
India-Pakistan drives demand
Unsurprisingly, the most sought-after fixture so far is the India vs Pakistan match scheduled for 10 October 2027, which has attracted more than 100,000 ticket applications.
The South Africa vs India fixture is currently the second most popular, with more than 86,000 applications, followed by India vs Australia, which has received more than 80,000.
A pre-seeded Super 7 fixture between India and Pakistan on 7 November has attracted almost 75,000 applications, while the 21 November final has already received almost 65,000 applications.
The figures highlight the commercial and audience pull of the tournament's marquee fixtures, with matches involving India's team generating particularly strong demand.
Ballot creates access ahead of tournament
The ticket ballot is designed to give fans around the world an opportunity to register for tickets during the initial sales phase.
Fans can select their preferred matches through the official ticketing platform, with the ballot remaining open until 23h59 CAT on 21 November 2026.
Ticket prices start at approximately R158 for entry-level tickets and rise to approximately R514 for the highest-tier matches, according to the ICC.
The tournament's pricing structure also includes family bundles, student and pensioner pricing, early-bird local allocations and community club and school group pricing.
The approach is intended to broaden access to the tournament while catering for different types of spectators, from individual fans and families to schools and community cricket organisations.
Africa prepares for global cricket spotlight
The 2027 tournament will feature 14 teams, with matches taking place across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
For the ICC, the early ticket demand underlines the global interest in bringing its flagship men's event back to Africa.
“One million ticket applications in just over 48 hours of opening the ticket ballot is a demonstration of the attention, stature and affiliation for ICC Cricket World Cup 2027,” says ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta.
“ICC events are now spectacles which transcend cultural and geographic boundaries and serve as platforms to widen and deepen fandom for the sport.”
Gupta says the tournament also provides an opportunity to expand cricket's audience across the continent.
“This is also Africa's moment to shine as an ICC marquee men's event is returning to the continent after two decades and brings with it the attention of 2.5 billion cricket fans across 120+ countries,” he says.
While the first three days of applications provide an early indication of demand, the ballot remains open for several weeks, meaning the final number of applications could rise significantly before registrations close.
For fans hoping to attend, the immediate priority is therefore not securing a ticket on a first-come, first-served basis, but registering for the ballot and selecting their preferred fixtures before the deadline.
With more than one million applications already submitted, the early numbers suggest that demand for CWC27 is already extending well beyond the host nations — setting the stage for a major sporting and tourism event across southern Africa in 2027.
Register for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup ticket ballot here.
