Cricket's most intense rivalry is set to dominate the 2026 Twenty20 World Cup, with India and Pakistan scheduled for a politically charged group stage encounter in Colombo on 15 February.
Tournament Draw and Political Context
The International Cricket Council confirmed the blockbuster fixture on Tuesday as part of the official draw announcement for the expanded 20-team tournament. Reflecting the strained diplomatic relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours, Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka rather than travelling to India for any games.
The tournament will unfold across eight venues from 7 February to 8 March, with five locations in India and three in Sri Lanka hosting matches. The final is scheduled for 8 March in Ahmedabad, India, but carries a significant contingency plan: should Pakistan reach the decider, the match will be relocated to Colombo.
Recent Tensions and Tournament Structure
Recent military tensions between the neighbouring nations continue to cast a shadow over cricket diplomacy. The preceding Asia Cup witnessed notable friction when India declined to accept the winners' trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's interior minister.
The tournament structure sees teams divided into five groups of four, with the top two from each progressing to the Super Eight phase. Defending champions India begin their Group A campaign against the United States in Mumbai on 7 February.
Other groups feature established cricketing nations alongside emerging teams. Group B includes Sri Lanka, Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman, while two-time winners England and West Indies are grouped with first-timers Italy, Bangladesh, and Nepal in Group C. New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates complete Group D.
Historical Context and Defending Champions
India enter the tournament as defending champions, having beaten South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final in Bridgetown, Jamaica during the 2024 tournament hosted by the West Indies and USA. India first won the T20 World Cup in 2007, edging past Pakistan in the inaugural final to claim the trophy.
The upcoming clash continues one of sport's most watched rivalries, where cricket and politics frequently intersect, ensuring global attention will focus on Colombo when the two teams meet in February 2026.
