ICC chairman Shah terms T20 World Cup 2026 a ‘global spectacle’ which would capture imagination of millions

India has been grouped with Pakistan, Namibia, the USA and the Netherlands in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

As reported earlier by Sportstar, the defending champion will begin its campaign against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium on February 7 and play Namibia in New Delhi on February 12.

The team will travel to Colombo for the marquee clash against arch-rival Pakistan on February 15, before featuring in the last group league fixture against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad.

There will be three matches a day during the group stage of the tournament.

Five cities in India – Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kolkata – will host the fixtures, while in Sri Lanka, the games will be held in Colombo (R. Premadasa Stadium and Sinhalese Sports Club) and Kandy (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium).

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Under the existing agreement between the PCB and the BCCI, which mandates neutral venues when either nation hosts an ICC event, Pakistan will play all its group-stage matches in Sri Lanka. The arrangement remains in place for the knockout phase as well. If Pakistan qualifies for the semifinal and the final, that fixture too will be staged in Sri Lanka.

Kolkata will host the first semifinal, but if either Sri Lanka or Pakistan makes the cut, it will be played in Colombo. The second semifinal will be played in Mumbai. If India qualifies for the semifinal, it will play at the Wankhede Stadium.

“The passion for cricket in this region is unmatched, and fans have been waiting eagerly for another global spectacle. The announcement of the fixtures brings us a step closer, and I have no doubt that the five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka will be alive with energy throughout the tournament,” said Jay Shah, the chairman of the ICC.

India will be the defending champion at the T20 World Cup 2026.
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“The T20 format continues to drive the sport’s global expansion and will be showcased at the LA Olympics in 2028. With that in mind, the 2026 edition would capture the imagination of millions. One can already picture the electric atmosphere at the Narendra Modi Stadium when the champions lift the trophy on March 8,” Shah added.

While India is placed in a relatively easy group, all eyes will be on the big game against Pakistan. The last time the two teams met at a T20 World Cup, in New York in 2024, India edged a tense, low-scoring thriller by six runs. In T20 World Cups, India has won seven of the nine fixtures between the teams, with one no result.

The last time they met in the Asia Cup, India defeated Pakistan in all three meetings and eventually clinched the title.

Published on Nov 25, 2025