Associates learn T20 World Cup schedule

The ICC has released the fixture schedule for next year’s Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Eight associate nations have learned their schedule and opposition for the tournament which takes place during February and March 2026.

Though the eight associate teams are divided across four groups, they are not done so evenly. Group A features three of the emerging nations, as USA, Netherlands and Namibia are grouped with Pakistan and hosts India. With Pakistan required to play all their matches in Sri Lanka, this group is also the most geographically diffuse, at 6 venues across both host nations.

Netherlands play Pakistan in Colombo in the opening fixture of the tournament on the 7th of February, with the USA taking on India in Mumbai later the same day. Namibia open their campaign against the Dutch in Delhi on the 10th of February.

With each team travelling to Colombo to play Pakistan, but their other games in India, the Group A sides are burdened with significant travel. This is most true of the Netherlands, who along with India, play four games at four different venues. After facing Pakistan and Namibia, the Dutch head south to face the USA in Chennai, before finally meeting the hosts in Ahmedabad.

The USA face Pakistan in Colombo for their second fixture, aiming to repeat their famous Super Over win in Texas last year. They then face the Netherlands and Namibia, both in Chennai. Namibia play their first two matches in Delhi, against the Dutch and then the hosts, before travelling to Chennai to face the USA and then on to Colombo to face Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Oman are the only associate in Group B, facing up to hosts Sri Lanka, Australia, Ireland and Zimbabwe. This group is hosted solely in Sri Lanka, with Oman opening their campaign at the SSC against Zimbabwe. They play the hosts in Kandy, before returning to the SSC to face Ireland. They close the group stage against Australia in Kandy.

Group C see debutants Italy join Nepal, England, West Indies and Bangladesh. The group is shared between Mumbai and Kolkata. Nepal will play their entire campaign in Mumbai, beginning against England, whilst Italy face Bangladesh in Kolkata. The two associates then meet in Mumbai for their second game. The Azzuri return to Kolkata to face England and then West Indies. Nepal face West Indies and then Bangladesh to finish their group.

Finally, in Group D, Canada and the UAE join South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan, with hosting shared between Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Chennai. Canada begin their campaign against South Africa in Ahmedabad, then face UAE in Delhi. The Maple Leafs then travel to Chennai to face New Zealand and Afghanistan. The Emirati tour begins in Chennai against NZ, before moving north, first to face their associate counterparts. Afghanistan and then South Africa in Delhi complete their group stage.

Should any associate advance to the Super 8 stage, they will inherit the seeding and schedule of the team from the top eight of the T20I ranking that they eliminate, in a similar fashion to the 2024 event. One Super 8 group is hosted in India, the other in Sri Lanka.

The knockouts, scheduled between the 4th and 8th of March, will be hosted in India, unless Pakistan qualify, in which case their semi-final and final will be hosted in Colombo.

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