2026 T20 WC
Mumbai, Nov 25: Critics of the global game were at it again on Tuesday, accusing the ICC of chasing commercial gain as India and Pakistan found themselves placed in the same group for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
The decision, coming close on the heels of the Asia Cup trophy fiasco, has also sparked murmurs about the BCCI’s quiet acquiescence, with detractors wondering why the world’s richest board continues to accept arrangements that appear to favour broadcasting interests above all else.
Yet, controversy did little to dim the grandeur of the announcement. The ICC confirmed that India and Pakistan will meet on February 15 at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium, a fixture that continues to be the sport’s most lucrative pull. As part of a prior agreement between the BCCI and PCB, Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka.India’s title defence begins on February 7 in Mumbai against the USA, followed by a clash with Namibia in Delhi on February 12. The team will then head to Colombo for the highly watched encounter before returning home to complete their league phase against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18.The tournament, stretching from February 7 to March 8, will unfold across eight venues — five in India and three in Sri Lanka — with 55 matches lined up in Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Colombo and Kandy. ICC chairman Jay Sharma unveiled the full schedule during a ceremony in Mumbai.Group B places Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman together, while Group C features England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal and Italy. Group D includes New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada and the UAE.In a separate announcement, Rohit Sharma — who led India to their triumphant 2024 campaign — was named tournament ambassador. The former skipper, who bowed out of T20Is after ending India’s 11-year wait for an ICC trophy, accumulated 4,231 runs at an average of 32.01 and a strike-rate of 140.89 in the format, leaving behind a legacy that continues to loom large. (PTI)
