T20 World Cup 2026: Schedule, Teams and Pakistan Timings
The T20 World Cup 2026 was the 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. Defending champions India successfully defended their crown on home soil, defeating New Zealand in the final at Ahmedabad. For Pakistani fans, the tournament carried special significance because Pakistan were drawn in the same group as arch-rivals India, and knowing the Pakistan time for every match was the key to catching all the action live.
T20 World Cup 2026: Schedule and Format
The T20 World Cup 2026 featured 20 teams and 55 matches. The group stage ran from February 7 to February 20, with each team playing four matches against the other sides in its group. The top two teams from each of the four groups advanced to the Super 8 stage, played from February 21 to March 1, where the eight qualifiers were split into two groups of four. The top two from each Super 8 group reached the semifinals on March 4 and 5, and the final was played on March 8, 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The tournament opened on February 7 with Pakistan facing the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, while defending champions India began their campaign the same day against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The most anticipated fixture, India vs Pakistan, was played on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Teams and Groups
The 20 teams at the tournament were divided into four groups of five. Bangladesh had originally qualified but were removed after refusing to travel to India, with Scotland coming in as their replacement.
- Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
- Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
- Group C: England, West Indies, Scotland, Nepal, Italy
- Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
Italy made their T20 World Cup debut at this edition. Pakistan’s campaign began at the SSC Ground in Colombo and included the blockbuster clash with India on February 15, for which fans can still relive the buildup through our Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign page. A complete overview of all the participating sides is available on our T20 World Cup tournament hub.
Pakistan Timings (PKT): Every Match in Pakistan Time
Converting the T20 World Cup 2026 Pakistan time was straightforward because both host countries share the same time zone: India (IST) and Sri Lanka (SLT) are both UTC+5:30, which is exactly 30 minutes ahead of Pakistan Standard Time (UTC+5). Fans simply subtracted 30 minutes from the announced start time.
| Match Start (India/Sri Lanka) | Pakistan Time (PKT) |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | 10:30 AM |
| 3:00 PM | 2:30 PM |
| 7:00 PM | 6:30 PM |
| 7:30 PM | 7:00 PM |
The final on March 8 started at 7:00 PM IST in Ahmedabad, which meant a 6:30 PM start in Pakistan — perfect evening viewing. Most evening fixtures in the tournament therefore began between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM PKT, while day matches started at 2:30 PM PKT or 10:30 AM PKT.
Results: India Retain the Title
India won the T20 World Cup 2026 by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026. India posted 255 for 5, the highest total ever in a T20 World Cup final, powered by Sanju Samson’s 89 off 46 balls, Ishan Kishan’s 54 off 25 and Abhishek Sharma’s 52 off 21, with Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 26 off 8 balls providing the late flourish. New Zealand were bowled out for 159, with only Tim Seifert (52) and Mitchell Santner (43) offering resistance, as Jasprit Bumrah’s 4 for 15 earned him the player of the match award and Axar Patel claimed 3 for 27.
India’s triumph made them the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles (after 2007 and 2024), the first to successfully defend the title, and the first host nation to lift the trophy. In the semifinals, India had beaten England by seven runs in Mumbai on March 5, while New Zealand thrashed South Africa by nine wickets in Kolkata on March 4. Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 383 runs, a record for a single edition, while Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy shared the bowling honours with 14 wickets each and Samson was named player of the tournament.
For the complete fixture list, see Cricket World’s complete teams, fixtures and schedule guide and the Sky Sports rundown of the 2026 results and fixtures.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was the 2026 T20 World Cup held?
The tournament ran from February 7 to March 8, 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka across eight venues, including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Colombo and Kandy.
Which group was Pakistan in?
Pakistan were in Group A alongside India, USA, Netherlands and Namibia. They opened their campaign against the Netherlands at the SSC Ground in Colombo on February 7 and faced India in Colombo on February 15.
What time did matches start in Pakistan?
Both India and Sri Lanka are 30 minutes ahead of Pakistan, so fans subtracted 30 minutes from the listed start time. Evening matches began at 6:30 PM or 7:00 PM PKT.
Who won the 2026 T20 World Cup?
India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026, becoming the first team to win three titles and the first hosts to win the tournament.
When is the next T20 World Cup?
The next edition is the 2028 T20 World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, followed by England, Ireland and Scotland in 2030.
T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan Timings and Viewing Guide
The t20 world cup 2026 promises another high-voltage global tournament. Pakistani fans should note the t20 world cup 2026 pakistan matches timing in PKT once fixtures are confirmed, with evening games the most convenient. The t20 world cup 2026 schedule, icc t20 world cup 2026 teams, and t20 world cup 2026 venues will all be published by the ICC, and this page will keep the Pakistan-centric timings updated.
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