HomeSports Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures: England begin against Nepal on February 8 with debutants Italy in same pool; India grouped with Pakistan | Cricket News
Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures: England begin against Nepal on February 8 with debutants Italy in same pool; India grouped with Pakistan | Cricket News
November 25, 2025:
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.
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, two-time winners West Indies and Bangladesh in Group C.
They will play West Indies in Mumbai (February 11) before games against Bangladesh (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.
Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 pools
Group A: India, Pakistan, Namibia, Netherlands, USA
Group B: Australia, Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe
Group C: Bangladesh, England, Italy, Nepal, West Indies
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, UAE
Image: 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.
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.
Image: India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha did not shake hands during games at the recent Asia Cup
Men’s T20 World Cup winners
2007: India
2009: Pakistan
2010: England
2012: West Indies
2014: Sri Lanka
2016: West Indies
2021: Australia
2022: England
2024: India
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.
Venues for 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup
India: Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai