T20 World Cup 2026: Format, fixtures, teams, venues, strain on England, Pakistan skipping India match and Bangladesh not concerned

The 2026 T20 World Cup has been crammed with drama – and the event hasn’t even began but.

Bangladesh eliminated for refusing to play in India over safety issues, with Scotland taking their place. Pakistan boycotting their conflict with India, seemingly in response to the Bangladesh choice. Australia shedding warm-up video games – and Pat Cummins.

If the competitors itself is as headline-making, then it will likely be must-watch stuff, dwell in full on Sky Sports activities from the opening fixtures on Saturday February 7 to the ultimate on Sunday March 8.

This is all you’ll want to know…

The place is the T20 World Cup being held?

The tenth version of this event will likely be staged throughout 5 venues in India and three in Sri Lanka, with all 55 matches dwell on Sky.

The occasion begins with a triple-header this Saturday as Pakistan face Netherlands (5.30am UK and Eire), England’s Group C rivals West Indies and Scotland sq. off (9.30am) and co-hosts and defending champions India play USA (1.30pm).

There are three video games every single day within the group section, at 5.30am, 9.30am and 1.30pm, aside from the ultimate day of that stage on February 20 when the only fixture is Australia vs Oman at 1.30pm.

The ultimate will likely be held on Sunday March 8 with Ahmedabad the venue until Pakistan qualify, during which case the showpiece recreation will likely be staged in Colombo because of Pakistan and India not enjoying matches in one another’s homelands because of political tensions.

New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai be a part of Ahmedabad because the Indian venues for the event, with Kandy and two grounds in Colombo – R Premadasa Stadium and Sinhalese Sports activities Membership – internet hosting video games in Sri Lanka.

Who’s in what group and the way does the event work?

The 20 groups have been cut up into the next swimming pools:

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

The edges meet the others of their pool as soon as every within the group section with the highest two advancing to the Tremendous 8 stage.

The Tremendous 8s then options two swimming pools of 4 with the highest two after one other spherical robin making the semi-finals.

As a result of prearranged seedings, England will likely be in Group 2 of the Tremendous 8s ought to they qualify for that stage, having been given the Y1 seeding.

If all of the seeds progress from spherical one, England will play Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan within the Tremendous 8s, with India, Australia, South Africa and West Indies within the different group.

Why are Bangladesh not enjoying?

Amid a backdrop of political tensions, exacerbated by the Indian cricket board eradicating Bangladesh quick bowler Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL squad, Bangladesh requested their T20 World Cup matches be moved out of India and to Sri Lanka as a substitute, citing safety issues

This enchantment was turned down by the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC), which stated there was “no credible threat” and that Bangladesh would get replaced if they didn’t journey to India.

The Tigers refused to budge on their stance and had been subsequently changed by Scotland, the next-highest facet within the T20 world rankings to not have already certified for the World Cup.

And why are Pakistan not enjoying India?

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi accused the ICC of “double standards” and favouring India for expelling Bangladesh and even advised Pakistan may boycott the occasion utterly, with a call to be made after authorities session.

They finally selected to play – with one caveat: refusing to participate of their scheduled match in opposition to India in Colombo on Sunday February 15. It’s not but recognized what would occur if the groups meet within the knockout levels of the T20 World Cup.

The ICC stated in a response that Pakistan’s choice to skip the fixture was “not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan” and hoped a “mutually acceptable resolution” may very well be discovered.

When and the place are England’s video games?

England start their bid for a 3rd T20 World Cup title, after 2010 and 2022, in opposition to Nepal in Mumbai from 9.30am on February 8, forward of additional group video games versus West Indies in Mumbai on February 11 (1.30pm), Scotland in Kolkata on February 14 (9.30am) and event debutants Italy in Kolkata on February 16 (9.30am).

Who’s in England’s squad?

England named quick bowler Josh Tongue of their 15-player group after his spectacular Ashes shows with the Nottinghamshire fast most popular to Brydon Carse.

Jofra Archer is concerned after recovering from the facet pressure that curtailed his Ashes sequence, with Jamie Smith – who struggled within the Exams in opposition to Australia – and final 12 months’s males’s Hundred participant of the event Jordan Cox among the many notable omissions.

England’s T20 World Cup squad: Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wooden.

How vital is that this event for England?

Important. Not solely are they seeking to develop into the primary group to win the Males’s T20 World Cup thrice – they’re at present locked on two titles apiece with India and West Indies – however jobs may very well be on the road if issues go improper so quickly after the 4-1 Ashes drubbing.

Managing director of cricket Rob Key’s place seems protected sufficient – or not less than did earlier than the most recent revelations about Harry Brook’s conflict with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand – however head coach Brendon McCullum most likely can not afford any missteps.

England’s opening T20 World Cup group, actually on paper, shouldn’t be among the many hardest, whereas they will even keep away from 2024 finalists India and South Africa, in addition to Australia, in the event that they attain the Tremendous 8s. You sense the semi-finals is the minimal requirement this time round.

Brook, in the meantime, stays an instrumental batter, but with the off-field headlines asking questions of his captaincy – the Yorkshireman admits he’s nonetheless fortunate to have that position – England will maybe ponder a change if the World Cup doesn’t go effectively.

The group are not less than getting into the event on a excessive, after ODI and T20 sequence wins in Sri Lanka.

Who’re the event favourites?

India, little question about it. A deep squad, dwelling benefit in each recreation, and reminiscences of successful the T20 World Cup lower than two years in the past. They’re the facet to beat.

Nonetheless, the shorter the sport, the extra probability of an upset, so there are many groups within the combine, together with England, Pakistan, South Africa, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

We should additionally not low cost Australia. Sure, they’ve simply been swept 3-0 in Pakistan and, sure, they’re with out Cummins (again damage) and have, considerably surprisingly, omitted the in-form Steve Smith from their squad, however we now have been right here earlier than…

They enter loads of tournaments on the again of poor outcomes and with severe query marks, but invariably make a superb account of themselves and sometimes win.

Solely essentially the most constructive Italy supporter would recommend their nation will get pleasure from a deep run however the Azzurri – captained by Derbyshire veteran Wayne Madsen – will get pleasure from their debut international event, particularly the fixture in opposition to England on Monday February 16.

2026 Males’s T20 World Cup – full fixtures

All instances UK and Eire; all video games dwell on Sky Sports activities

Group stage

Saturday February 7

• Pakistan vs Netherlands (Colombo, 5.30am) – Group A
• West Indies vs Scotland (Kolkata, 9.30am) – Group C
• India vs USA (Mumbai, 1.30pm) – Group A

Sunday February 8

• New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Chennai, 5.30am) – Group D
• England vs Nepal (Mumbai, 9.30am) – Group C
• Sri Lanka vs Eire (Colombo, 1.30pm) – Group B

Monday February 9

• Scotland vs Italy (Kolkata, 5.30am) – Group C
• Zimbabwe vs Oman (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group B
• South Africa vs Canada (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) – Group D

Tuesday February 10

• Netherlands vs Namibia (Delhi, 5.30am) – Group A
• New Zealand vs UAE (Chennai, 9.30am) – Group D
• Pakistan vs USA (Colombo, 1.30pm) – Group A

Wednesday February 11

• South Africa vs Afghanistan (Ahmedabad, 5.30am) – Group D
• Australia vs Eire (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group B
• England vs West Indies (Mumbai, 1.30pm) – Group C

Thursday February 12

• Sri Lanka vs Oman (Kandy, 5.30am) – Group B
• Nepal vs Italy (Mumbai, 9.30am) – Group C
• India vs Namibia (Delhi, 1.30pm) – Group A

Friday February 13

• Australia vs Zimbabwe (Colombo, 5.30am) – Group B
• Canada vs UAE (Delhi, 9.30am) – Group D
• USA vs Netherlands (Chennai, 1.30pm) – Group A

Saturday February 14

• Eire vs Oman (Colombo, 5.30am) – Group B
• England vs Scotland (Kolkata, 9.30am) – Group C
• New Zealand vs South Africa (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) – Group D

Sunday February 15

Monday February 16

• Afghanistan vs UAE (Delhi, 5.30am) – Group D
• England vs Italy (Kolkata, 9.30am) – Group C
• Australia vs Sri Lanka (Kandy, 1.30pm) – Group B

Tuesday February 17

• New Zealand vs Canada (Chennai, 5.30am) – Group D
• Eire vs Zimbabwe (Kandy, 9.30am) – Group B
• Scotland vs Nepal (Mumbai, 1.30pm) – Group C

Wednesday February 18

• South Africa vs UAE (Delhi, 5.30am) – Group D
• Pakistan vs Namibia (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group A
• India vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) – Group A

Thursday February 19

• West Indies vs Italy (Kolkata, 5.30am) – Group C
• Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group B
• Afghanistan vs Canada (Chennai, 1.30pm) – Group D

Friday February 20

• Australia vs Oman (Kandy, 1.30pm) – Group B

Tremendous 8s

Saturday February 21

• Y2 vs Y3 (Colombo, 1.30pm)

Sunday February 22

• Y1 vs Y4 (Kandy, 9.30am)
• X1 v X4 (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm)

Monday February 23

• X2 vs X3 (Mumbai, 1.30pm)

Tuesday February 24

Wednesday February 25

• Y2 vs Y4 (Colombo, 1.30pm)

Thursday February 26

• X3 vs X4 (Ahmedabad, 9.30am)
• X1 vs X2 (Chennai, 1.30pm)

Friday February 27

• Y1 vs Y2 (Colombo, 1.30pm)

Saturday February 28

Sunday March 1

• X2 v X4 (Delhi, 9.30am)
• X1 vs X3 (Kolkata, 1.30pm)

Knockout rounds

Wednesday March 4

• Semi-final 1 (Kolkata or Colombo, 1.30pm)

Thursday March 5

• Semi-final 2 (Mumbai, 1.30pm)

Sunday March 8

• Remaining (Ahmedabad or Colombo, 1.30pm)

Watch the Males’s T20 World Cup dwell on Sky Sports activities from February 7 to March 8. Get Sky Sports activities or stream contract-free with NOW.