2026 Men’s T20 World Cup gets underway in Colombo today

The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to get underway in Colombo today (07).

The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India will be worked-off at eight venues with the finals slated to be played on March 08.

This is the second occasion Sri Lanka is hosting the T20 World Cup, having previously staged the tournament in 2012.

The curtain-raiser of the 2026 edition of the tournament will see 2009 Champions Pakistan taking on the Netherlands at the newly revamped Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground at 11:00 a.m.

Venues

Sri Lanka and India will host the tournament, with games set to be played across eight venues - five in India and three Sri Lankan grounds in Colombo and Kandy.

Matiches will be played in India’s Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium), Kolkata (Eden Gardens), Delhi (Arun Jaitley Stadium), Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium) and Chennai (M.A. Chidambaram Stadium).

The R. Premadasa Stadium and SSC Cricket Ground are the two Colombo venues that will host games, along with the Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy.

How teams qualified for T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka (qualified as hosts)

India (qualified as hosts)

England (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)

Afghanistan (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)

Australia (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)

Bangladesh* (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)

South Africa (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)

USA (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)

West Indies (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)

Ireland (qualified via T20I rankings)

New Zealand (qualified via T20I rankings)

Pakistan (qualified via T20I rankings)

Italy (came through Europe Qualifier)

Netherlands (came through Europe Qualifier)

Canada (came through Americas Qualifier)

Namibia (came through Africa Qualifier)

Zimbabwe (came through Africa Qualifier)

Nepal (came through Asia-Pacific Regional Final)

Oman (came through Asia-Pacific Regional Final)

United Arab Emirates (came through Asia-Pacific Regional Final)

*Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland, the highest-ranked non-qualifiers, on January 24

T20 World Cup Groups

Group A: India, Pakistan, United States, Netherlands, Namibia

Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman

Group C: England, West Indies, Scotland, Nepal, Italy

Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, United Arab Emirates
 
Squads

All competing teams have named their final list of 15 players.

Any alterations to squads at this stage will require approval from the ICC’s Event Technical Committee.

World Cup Format

Just like the last edition of the tournament, which was hosted by the USA and West Indies two years ago, 20 teams will feature once again.

The teams will be split into four even groups, with each side playing a minimum of four matches against their other group members.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super 8 stage, which will consist of two groups of four teams. Once again, each collection of teams will play their group members, with the top two from each group progressing.

From there, the final four will play in the Knockout stage, where the winners of each semi-final will qualify for the Final.

There will be 55 matches in total across the T20 World Cup.

Any match that finishes in a tie will see a Super Over be played and if the Super Over is a tie, subsequent Super Overs will be played until there is a winner.

There is also additional time available to ensure the completion of all Knockout fixtures (the semi-finals and final).

Key Dates

February 7: Tournament opener

February 22: Super 8 stage begins

March 4: Semi-final 1

March 5: Semi-final 2

March 8: The Final

Matches in Sri Lanka

The ICC has scheduled 20 T20 World Cup matches across Sri Lanka’s three venues. If Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals and final, the number of matches in Sri Lanka will increase to 22.

Meanwhile, Pakistan have announced they will boycott their scheduled match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 15. India, however, have confirmed they will travel to Sri Lanka in line with ICC guidelines.

Sri Lanka at the 2026 T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka are pooled in Group B alongside Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe.

On February 02, Sri Lanka Cricket announced the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Led by Dasun Shanaka, the squad features an experienced lineup with the inclusion of Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera.

Squad: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana.

Although pacer Eshan Malinga was named in the original 15-member squad he was replaced by Pramod Madushan after Malinga was ruled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury.
 
Sri Lanka’s group stage fixtures:
February 8: v Ireland, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (7.00 p.m.)
February 12: v Oman, Pallekele Stadium, Kandy (11.00 a.m.)
February 16: v Australia, Pallekele Stadium, Kandy (7.00 p.m.)
February 19: v Zimbabwe, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (3.00 p.m.)

Past T20 World Cup Winners
*2007 India beat Pakistan by five runs
*2009 Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets
*2010 England beat Australia by seven wickets
*2012 West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 36 runs
*2014 Sri Lanka beat India by six wickets
*2016 West Indies beat England by four wickets
*2021 Australia beat New Zealand by eight wickets
*2022 England beat Pakistan by five wickets
*2024 India beat South Africa by seven runs