The Black Caps will face hosts South Africa in their first match at next year’s ODI Cricket World Cup, having avoided heavyweights India and Australia in the group phase.
New Zealand’s first match is in Cape Town on October 9, followed by group games against Bangladesh, a qualifier, Sri Lanka and England.
India and Pakistan are on the other side of the draw and will clash at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on October 10.
India also have Australia in their pool in a repeat of the 2023 final.
Their encounter will open the tournament in Cape Town on October 7, with the tournament co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
India and Pakistan have a fierce rivalry on the cricket pitch, fuelled by political tensions between the subcontinent neighbours.
There will likely be a fervent atmosphere at the Wanderers, nicknamed the ‘Bullring’, a high-scoring ground that will also stage the final on November 21.
Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and an as yet unknown qualifier are also in Group A with the top three teams in each pool advancing to the Super 7 phase, along with the best of the fourth-placed teams across the two pools.
2027 Cricket World Cup groups:
Group A: Afghanistan, Australia, India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Qualifier A
Group B: Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Qualifier B
– Reuters, with additional reporting from RNZ