Web Desk (MNN) – Traditional rivals India and Pakistan have once again been placed in the same group for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council announced on Tuesday while unveiling the tournament schedule
The marquee Group ‘A’ encounter is scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, ensuring another box-office showdown between the two neighbours. The group also includes Namibia, the Netherlands and the United States.
The tournament will run from February 7 to March 8 across eight venues, with five hosting matches in India and three in Sri Lanka. Pakistan will play all of their group-stage and Super Eight fixtures in Sri Lanka. If they fail to reach the final, the title match will take place in Ahmedabad.
The event will follow the same format as the 2024 T20 World Cup, with the top two teams from each of the four groups advancing to the Super Eight stage. The best four from the Super Eight will qualify for the semi-finals.
Besides hosts India and Sri Lanka, the 20-team event features Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman and the UAE.
The ICC also announced that former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has been appointed as the tournament ambassador. Sharma ended his T20I career with 4231 runs at an average of 32.01 and a strike rate of 140.89. He is among the few players to win two Men’s T20 World Cups, first in 2007 and then in 2024.
