T20 World Cup 2026: Schedule, Teams, Venues and Pakistan Squad

The T20 World Cup 2026 is the biggest event on the cricket calendar, with 20 teams battling across India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March 2026. As the 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, it features an expanded field, eight venues and a high-voltage Pakistan-India clash in the group stage. This complete guide covers the schedule, groups, venues, format and everything Pakistan fans need to follow the tournament.

Key Dates and Tournament Format

The tournament runs for 29 days. Forty group matches will be played between 7 February and 20 February, with the top two sides from each of the four groups progressing to the Super Eights starting 21 February. The top four teams after the Super Eights reach the semi-finals — scheduled for Kolkata/Colombo and Mumbai — before the final on 8 March 2026 in Ahmedabad (or Colombo if Pakistan qualify, under the tournament’s hybrid arrangement). A total of 55 matches will be played.

Groups for the T20 World Cup 2026

The 20 teams are divided into four groups of five:

• Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
• Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
• Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy
• Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE

Note: Bangladesh’s participation has been uncertain, with reports suggesting the ICC may replace them with Scotland if they withdraw — check the latest update before the tournament begins.

Venues: Eight Stadiums in India and Sri Lanka

Matches will be split across five Indian and three Sri Lankan venues. In India: Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), Eden Gardens (Kolkata), Arun Jaitley Stadium (New Delhi) and MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai). In Sri Lanka: R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo), Sinhalese Sports Club Ground (Colombo) and Pallekele International Stadium (Kandy). All of Pakistan’s matches are scheduled in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan’s Fixtures at the T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan open their campaign against the Netherlands on 7 February at the SSC Ground in Colombo — the tournament’s opening day. The standout fixture is the arch-rival clash against defending champions India on 15 February in Colombo, a match expected to draw one of the largest television audiences in cricket history. Pakistan’s remaining Group A games are against USA and Namibia. Finishing in the top two of the group is essential to reach the Super Eights.

Defending Champions and Favourites

India arrive as defending champions after beating South Africa in the 2024 final in Barbados — Virat Kohli was player of the match in that final and Jasprit Bumrah was player of the tournament. India will aim to become the first team to successfully defend the Men’s T20 World Cup title. Australia (2021 winners), England (two-time champions) and a strong South African side are among the other leading contenders, while co-hosts Sri Lanka will bank on home conditions.

How to Follow the Tournament

With matches spread across two countries and multiple time slots, fans should lock in the official fixture list once squads are announced closer to February, and set reminders for the night games in Sri Lanka. For Pakistan supporters, the group-stage equation is simple: win three of four games and the Super Eights are virtually assured. Keep an eye on team announcements, warm-up matches and pitch reports from the Sri Lankan venues, where Pakistan will play all their group games. Broadcast details and streaming options are usually confirmed by the ICC in the weeks before the first ball.

Follow Pakistan’s build-up in our Babar Azam career profile and the Pakistan cricket schedule 2026, and relive past glory in our Asia Cup history guide.

The official fixture announcement is on ICC Cricket’s T20 World Cup 2026 page, with a full team-by-team breakdown at CricketWorld’s complete tournament guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the T20 World Cup 2026 start? 7 February 2026, with the final on 8 March 2026.

Where is Pakistan vs India being played? In Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 15 February 2026.

How many teams are in the T20 World Cup 2026? 20 teams in four groups of five, with 55 matches in total.