England will begin their 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on Sunday February 8 with the fixtures announced for the 10th edition of the tournament, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.
Scotland were named last-minute replacements for Bangladesh, who will no longer take part after their request to move matches to Sri Lanka due to security concerns, following strained political tensions between them and India, was rejected by the ICC.
England, champions in 2010 and 2022 and beaten in the semi-finals by India at the previous edition in the Caribbean and the USA in 2024, have also been positioned with debutants Italy, late entrants Scotland and two-time winners West Indies in Group C.
They will play West Indies in Mumbai (February 11) before games against Scotland (February 14) and Italy (February 16) in Kolkata.
The 20-team tournament, running from February 7 to March 8, will mark Harry Brook’s first as England captain in a global event with the batter taking over from Jos Buttler following the disastrous 50-over Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year on the subcontinent in which the team lost all three of their group games.
England are joined in T20 World Cup Group C with West Indies, Italy, Bangladesh and Nepal
India grouped with Pakistan; sides to play each other in Colombo
Defending champions India – who defeated South Africa in the 2024 final to claim their second title – are in the same group as 2009 winners Pakistan with the sides meeting in Colombo on February 15.
Pakistan and India only currently play each other in global events and Asia Cups due to political tensions, with all games taking place on neutral territory.
India and Pakistan are joined in Group A by USA, Namibia and the Netherlands, with Pakistan playing Netherlands in the tournament opener in Colombo on Saturday February 7 (5.30am UK).
Group B comprises 2021 winners Australia, co-hosts and 2014 victors Sri Lanka, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe, while Group D features 2024 runners-up South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.
There will be three games a day across the first round – at 5.30am, 9.30am and 1.30pm UK time – before that phase concludes on Friday February 20 as Australia take on Oman, with the Super 8s then beginning the following day.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha did not shake hands during games at the recent Asia Cup
How does the T20 World Cup work?
The sides meet the others in their pool once each in the group phase with the top two advancing to the Super 8 stage.
The Super 8s then features two pools of four with the top two after another round robin making the semi-finals.
The first semi-final (March 4) will be played in Colombo if Pakistan reach the knockouts or Kolkata if not, with the second (March 5) in Mumbai.
The final (March 8) will then be held at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad unless Pakistan qualify, in which case the showpiece game will take place in Colombo.
Virat Kohli helped India win the 2024 T20 World Cup before promptly retiring from the format
2026 Men’s T20 World Cup – full fixtures
All times UK and Ireland
Group stage
Saturday February 7
Pakistan vs Netherlands (Colombo, 5.30am) – Group AWest Indies vs Scotland (Kolkata, 9.30am) – Group CIndia vs USA (Mumbai, 1.30pm) – Group A
Sunday February 8
New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Chennai, 5.30am) – Group DEngland vs Nepal (Mumbai, 9.30am) – Group CSri Lanka vs Ireland (Colombo, 1.30pm) – Group B
Monday February 9
Scotland vs Italy (Kolkata, 5.30am) – Group CZimbabwe vs Oman (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group BSouth Africa vs Canada (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) – Group D
Tuesday February 10
Netherlands vs Namibia (Delhi, 5.30am) – Group ANew Zealand vs UAE (Chennai, 9.30am) – Group DPakistan vs USA (Colombo, 1.30pm) – Group A
Wednesday February 11
South Africa vs Afghanistan (Ahmedabad, 5.30am) – Group DAustralia vs Ireland (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group BEngland vs West Indies (Mumbai, 1.30pm) – Group C
Thursday February 12
Sri Lanka vs Oman (Kandy, 5.30am) – Group BNepal vs Italy (Mumbai, 9.30am) – Group CIndia vs Namibia (Delhi, 1.30pm) – Group A
Friday February 13
Australia vs Zimbabwe (Colombo, 5.30am) – Group BCanada vs UAE (Delhi, 9.30am) – Group DUSA vs Netherlands (Chennai, 1.30pm) – Group A
Saturday February 14
Ireland vs Oman (Colombo, 5.30am) – Group BEngland vs Scotland (Kolkata, 9.30am) – Group CNew Zealand vs South Africa (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) – Group D
Sunday February 15
West Indies vs Nepal (Mumbai, 5.30am) – Group CUSA vs Namibia (Chennai, 9.30am) – Group AIndia vs Pakistan (Colombo, 1.30pm) – Group A
Monday February 16
Afghanistan vs UAE (Delhi, 5.30am) – Group DEngland vs Italy (Kolkata, 9.30am) – Group CAustralia vs Sri Lanka (Kandy, 1.30pm) – Group B
Tuesday February 17
New Zealand vs Canada (Chennai, 5.30am) – Group DIreland vs Zimbabwe (Kandy, 9.30am) – Group BScotland vs Nepal (Mumbai, 1.30pm) – Group C
Wednesday February 18
South Africa vs UAE (Delhi, 5.30am) – Group DPakistan vs Namibia (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group AIndia vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) – Group A
Thursday February 19
West Indies vs Italy (Kolkata, 5.30am) – Group CSri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (Colombo, 9.30am) – Group BAfghanistan vs Canada (Chennai, 1.30pm) – Group D
Friday February 20
Australia vs Oman (Kandy, 1.30pm) – Group B
Super 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
Final (Ahmedabad or Colombo, 1.30pm)
How teams qualified for T20 World Cup
India (qualified as hosts)Sri Lanka (qualified as hosts)England (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)Afghanistan (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)Australia (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)Bangladesh* (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)South Africa (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)USA (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)West Indies (qualified on performance in last T20 World Cup)Ireland (qualified via T20I rankings)New Zealand (qualified via T20I rankings)Pakistan (qualified via T20I rankings)Italy** (came through Europe Qualifier)Netherlands (came through Europe Qualifier)Canada (came through Americas Qualifier)Namibia (came through Africa Qualifier)Zimbabwe (came through Africa Qualifier)Nepal (came through Asia-Pacific Regional Final)Oman (came through Asia-Pacific Regional Final)United Arab Emirates (came through Asia-Pacific Regional Final)
*Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland, the highest-ranked non-qualifiers, on January 24
**Italy are the only debutants in this edition of the T20 World Cup
