ICC Releases Schedule for 2026 T20 World Cup; India–Pakistan Clash in Colombo on February 15
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- Nov 25, 2025
- 27
The International Cricket Council on Monday announced the full schedule of the 2026 T20 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The high-voltage group stage clash between India and Pakistan has been scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, following an agreement between the BCCI and PCB that major multinational tournament matches between the two teams will be played at neutral venues.
Tournament Overview
The 2026 edition will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups, with each team playing four league matches. The top two teams from every group will advance to the Super-8 stage, to be restructured into ‘Group X’ and ‘Group Y’. Two teams from each will qualify for the semi-finals, and the final will be held on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
In total, the tournament will comprise:
The opening match will see Pakistan take on the Netherlands on February 7, while India’s opening fixture will be against the United States.
Venues in India and Sri Lanka
Matches will be staged at:
India (5 venues)
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Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
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Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
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Eden Gardens, Kolkata
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Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
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Chepauk Stadium, Chennai
Sri Lanka (3 venues)
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R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
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Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
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Kandy International Stadium, Kandy
India will play its group matches in Mumbai, Delhi, Colombo, and Ahmedabad.
Why India–Pakistan Will Be Played in Colombo
The decision to schedule the marquee rivalry match in Sri Lanka stems from a recent agreement between the cricket boards of India and Pakistan that the two teams would not tour each other’s countries for multinational tournaments, instead opting for neutral venues. The same arrangement had been followed during the recent Champions Trophy, where the Indo-Pak match took place in Dubai.
Schedule Highlights
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Three matches will be played daily during the group phase from February 7 to 19.
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February 20 will feature a single match: Australia vs Oman.
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The Super-8 round begins on February 21, with 12 matches scheduled.
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The first semi-final will be played in Kolkata on March 4, and the second in Mumbai on March 5.
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If Pakistan qualifies, their knockout matches will be shifted to Colombo.
Brand Ambassador Announced
India’s 2024 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma has been named the official brand ambassador of the tournament, unveiled during the ICC ceremony in Mumbai.
Competitive Groups Ahead
Two groups stand out as particularly tough:
These groups include heavyweights such as England, South Africa, West Indies, and New Zealand, all previous finalists. Bangladesh and Afghanistan, by contrast, are yet to reach a World Cup final.
Other Tournament Notes
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Italy will make its first-ever appearance at a T20 World Cup.
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Hosts India, along with Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States, and West Indies, qualified automatically by reaching the Super-8 in the previous edition.
Historical Context
The T20 World Cup began in 2007, with India winning the inaugural edition after defeating Pakistan in the final. India secured their second championship in 2024, beating South Africa. West Indies and England also hold two titles each, while Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia have won once apiece.
Meanwhile, recent India–Pakistan encounters have remained tense. During the Asia Cup in September, the teams met three times, all of which India won. The matches also saw on-field celebrations, a lack of handshakes, and a trophy-presentation controversy involving PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the Indian squad