Key details for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 have surfaced, revealing how the tournament’s 20 participating teams will be divided into four groups containing five teams each. The top two teams from every group will secure their place in the Super 8 stage, where the race for the trophy will intensify.
According to media reports, arch-rivals Pakistan and India will be placed in the same group, and their highly anticipated encounter will take place on February 15 in Colombo.
Reports indicate that the Pakistan–India group is likely to include the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA, making it a mix of competitive and emerging cricket nations. Meanwhile, co-host Sri Lanka is expected to share its group with Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Oman, promising another set of challenging contests.
Another group is set to feature England, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Italy, whereas South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, the UAE, and Canada are expected to form the remaining group. These combinations suggest that the group stage alone will deliver several high-stakes and action-packed matches.
The T20 World Cup will run from February 7 to March 8, 2026, with the official schedule set to be announced on November 25. Matches in India will take place across Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad, while Sri Lanka will host fixtures in Colombo and Kandy.
According to reports, Pakistan is scheduled to play all its matches in Sri Lanka. Although the final has been initially allocated to Ahmedabad, it will be shifted to Colombo if Pakistan qualifies for the title match. Likewise, Mumbai and Kolkata have been shortlisted for the semifinals, but the ultimate venues will depend on the semifinalists. If Pakistan reaches the semifinal stage, its knockout match will also be held in Sri Lanka.
