LAHORE – The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly finalised the schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with a blockbuster encounter between arch-rivals Pakistan and India set for February 15 in Colombo. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is expected to run from February 7 to March 8, featuring 20 teams. The ICC is anticipated to officially announce the schedule on November 25.
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Pakistan and India are placed in the same group alongside the United States, Namibia, and the Netherlands. All of Pakistan’s matches will be played in Sri Lanka, while the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage, followed by semi-finals and the final. The final venue is likely to be Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan progresses, due to the current political tensions between the two nations preventing bilateral cricket.
India enter the tournament as defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the final of the 2024 edition in Barbados. The 20 teams include automatically qualified sides such as Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States, and West Indies. Pakistan, New Zealand, and Ireland qualified based on T20I rankings, while regional qualifiers include Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
The tournament promises a mix of established cricketing powerhouses and emerging teams, including Italy making its T20 World Cup debut. Fans are eagerly awaiting the high-voltage Pakistan-India clash, which remains one of the most anticipated fixtures in global cricket.
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With the mega event less than three months away, teams are expected to finalise preparations, while the ICC’s official announcement will confirm venues, fixtures, and timings for the much-awaited tournament.