Sri Lanka
USA
Canada
India
UK
UAE
The 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, running from Saturday until March 8, 2026. The month-long tournament will feature 55 matches across eight venues, set against a backdrop of heightened political and diplomatic tensions in South Asia.
The fast-paced T20 format, with 20 overs per side, promises high-intensity cricket, power hitting and rapid momentum shifts, with matches typically lasting three to four hours.
Venues and Host Cities
The tournament will begin in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where Pakistan will face the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground. The final will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, on March 8.
A special arrangement has been made for Pakistan, who requested that all their matches be played in Sri Lanka due to security concerns. The ICC approved the request, similar to previous decisions that allowed India to play Pakistan-hosted matches at neutral venues.
Matches will be played across five Indian cities — New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad — and three Sri Lankan venues, including Colombo and Kandy.
Qualified Teams
A total of 20 teams will compete in the tournament:
Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Italy (debut), Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, United States, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
Notably, Bangladesh will miss the Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time, after requesting a venue change due to security concerns related to India. The ICC rejected the request and invited Scotland to replace them.
Amid rising tensions, Pakistan has also announced it will not play against India in their scheduled Group A fixture on February 15.
Tournament Format
The 20 teams are divided into four groups, with each team playing the others in their group, accounting for 40 group-stage matches.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 stage, followed by the semi-finals and the final on March 8.
Past Champions
India won the inaugural title in 2007. Pakistan claimed the trophy in 2009, followed by England in 2010. The West Indies became the first multiple-time champions with wins in 2012 and 2016.
Sri Lanka lifted the trophy in 2014, Australia in 2021, and England secured their second title in 2022. India joined the elite list of multiple champions after winning again in 2024. No team has ever defended the title successfully.
Prize Money
The ICC has yet to announce the prize money for 2026. In the previous edition in 2024, the total prize pool stood at $11.25 million, with the champions receiving $2.45 million, the highest in the tournament’s history.
