ICC Confirms Venues for 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka

(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)

By Usama Mustafa | Published November 7, 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed the venues for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. The announcement marks the return of cricket’s most popular short-format tournament to South Asia.

Host Cities Announced

According to reports, the Indian venues will include Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai, while Colombo and Kandy have been shortlisted as host cities in Sri Lanka.
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket stadium, is expected to host the final match—unless Pakistan qualifies, in which case the final will shift to Sri Lanka to maintain neutrality under the existing agreement between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The opening matches of the tournament are also expected to be shared between the two host nations.

Neutral Venues for Pakistan

As per the ICC’s arrangements, Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka, following the PCB-BCCI understanding that requires both nations to play on neutral grounds when one is hosting a multi-nation ICC event.
This decision ensures that Pakistani players will compete in familiar subcontinental conditions, a setting where they have historically performed well.

Tournament Format

The structure of the tournament will remain the same as the 2024 edition.

20 teams will be divided into four groups of five.
The top two teams from each group will move to the Super Eight stage.
The top two teams from each Super Eight group will then qualify for the semi-finals, followed by the final.

All 20 participating teams have already been confirmed by the ICC.

Pakistan’s Road Ahead

For Pakistan, the 2026 T20 World Cup offers both a challenge and an opportunity — a chance to end the title drought since 2009 and to compete strongly in conditions that suit their style of play.
With the official schedule and ticketing details expected to be released next week, anticipation is building among cricket fans around the world.

Key Takeaway

The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup promises to deliver exciting cricket action across India and Sri Lanka, as teams prepare to battle for one of the most coveted trophies in world cricket.