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The tentative date and venue for the clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India in next year’s ICC T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, has been revealed.
According to sources, both teams are slated to face off each other on February 8 in Colombo.
Moreover, the match could also mark the start of the mega event, which is expected to run from February 7 to March 8.
As per the reports, ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches will be held across at least five venues in India and two in Sri Lanka.
The final will be held in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on Pakistan’s advancement through to the pinnacle clash— due to the hybrid model.
Meanwhile, the full lineup for the 2026 edition has been completed with 20 teams competing for the trophy.
Alongside the two hosts, automatic qualification was granted to the top seven sides from the 2024 T20 World Cup: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States, and West Indies, as well as Pakistan, New Zealand, and Ireland, who progressed based on ICC rankings.
From the regional qualifiers, Canada secured the Americas spot, while the Netherlands and Italy emerged from Europe, the latter marking their maiden appearance at a T20 World Cup.
Namibia and Zimbabwe claimed the two available spots from Africa, while Nepal, Oman, and the UAE completed the Asian contingent.
The 2026 tournament will retain the same format as the previous edition, with 20 teams divided into four groups of five. The top two from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage, followed by semi-finals and the final.
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