T20 World Cup 2026: Format, fixtures, groups, venues, pressure on England, Pakistan skipping India match and Bangladesh not involved

The 2026 T20 World Cup has been filled with drama - and the tournament hasn't even started yet.

Bangladesh removed for refusing to play in India over security concerns, with Scotland taking their place. Pakistan boycotting their clash with India, seemingly in response to the Bangladesh decision. Australia losing warm-up games - and Pat Cummins.

If the competition itself is as headline-making, then it will be must-watch stuff, live in full on Sky Sports from the opening fixtures on Saturday February 7 to the final on Sunday March 8.

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Here's all you need to know…

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Where is the T20 World Cup being held?

The 10th edition of this tournament will be staged across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka, with all 55 matches live on Sky.

The event starts with a triple-header this Saturday as Pakistan face Netherlands (5.30am UK and Ireland), England's Group C rivals West Indies and Scotland square off (9.30am) and co-hosts and defending champions India play USA (1.30pm).

There are three games every day in the group phase, at 5.30am, 9.30am and 1.30pm, except for the final day of that stage on February 20 when the sole fixture is Australia vs Oman at 1.30pm.

The final will be held on Sunday March 8 with Ahmedabad the venue unless Pakistan qualify, in which case the showpiece game will be staged in Colombo due to Pakistan and India not playing matches in each other's homelands due to political tensions.

New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai join Ahmedabad as the Indian venues for the tournament, with Kandy and two grounds in Colombo - R Premadasa Stadium and Sinhalese Sports Club - hosting games in Sri Lanka.

Who is in what group and how does the tournament work?

The 20 teams have been split into the following pools:

• Group A: India, Pakistan, Namibia, Netherlands, USA
• Group B: Australia, Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe
• Group C: Scotland, England, Italy, Nepal, West Indies
• Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, UAE

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.

Due to prearranged seedings, England will be in Group 2 of the Super 8s should they qualify for that stage, having been given the Y1 seeding.

If all the seeds progress from round one, England will play Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan in the Super 8s, with India, Australia, South Africa and West Indies in the other group.

Why are Bangladesh not playing?

Amid a backdrop of political tensions, exacerbated by the Indian cricket board removing Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL squad, Bangladesh requested their T20 World Cup matches be moved out of India and to Sri Lanka instead, citing security concerns

This appeal was turned down by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which said there was "no credible threat" and that Bangladesh would be replaced if they did not travel to India.

The Tigers refused to budge on their stance and were subsequently replaced by Scotland, the next-highest side in the T20 world rankings not to have already qualified for the World Cup.

And why are Pakistan not playing India?

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi accused the ICC of "double standards" and favouring India for expelling Bangladesh and even suggested Pakistan could boycott the event completely, with a decision to be made after government consultation.

They eventually chose to play - with one caveat: refusing to take part in their scheduled match against India in Colombo on Sunday February 15. It is not yet known what would happen if the teams meet in the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup.

The ICC said in a response that Pakistan's decision to skip the fixture was "not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan" and hoped a "mutually acceptable resolution" could be found.

When and where are England's games?

England begin their bid for a third T20 World Cup title, after 2010 and 2022, against Nepal in Mumbai from 9.30am on February 8, ahead of further group games versus West Indies in Mumbai on February 11 (1.30pm), Scotland in Kolkata on February 14 (9.30am) and tournament debutants Italy in Kolkata on February 16 (9.30am).

Who is in England's squad?

England named fast bowler Josh Tongue in their 15-player group after his impressive Ashes displays with the Nottinghamshire quick preferred to Brydon Carse.

Jofra Archer is involved after recovering from the side strain that curtailed his Ashes series, with Jamie Smith - who struggled in the Tests against Australia - and last year's men's Hundred player of the tournament Jordan Cox among the notable omissions.

England's T20 World Cup squad: Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.

How important is this tournament for England?

Vital. Not only are they looking to become the first team to win the Men's T20 World Cup three times - they are currently locked on two titles apiece with India and West Indies - but jobs could be on the line if things go wrong so soon after the 4-1 Ashes drubbing.

Managing director of cricket Rob Key's position appears safe enough - or at least did before the latest revelations about Harry Brook's clash with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand - but head coach Brendon McCullum probably cannot afford any missteps.

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England's opening T20 World Cup group, certainly on paper, is not among the hardest, while they will also avoid 2024 finalists India and South Africa, as well as Australia, if they reach the Super 8s. You sense the semi-finals is the minimum requirement this time around.

Brook, meanwhile, remains an instrumental batter, yet with the off-field headlines asking questions of his captaincy - the Yorkshireman admits he is still lucky to have that role - England will perhaps ponder a change if the World Cup does not go well.

The team are at least entering the tournament on a high, after ODI and T20 series wins in Sri Lanka.

Who are the tournament favourites?

India, no doubt about it. A deep squad, home advantage in every game, and memories of winning the T20 World Cup less than two years ago. They are the side to beat.

However, the shorter the game, the more chance of an upset, so there are plenty of teams in the mix, including England, Pakistan, South Africa, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

We must also not discount Australia. Yes, they have just been swept 3-0 in Pakistan and, yes, they are without Cummins (back injury) and have, somewhat surprisingly, omitted the in-form Steve Smith from their squad, but we have been here before…

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They enter plenty of tournaments on the back of poor results and with serious question marks, yet invariably make a good account of themselves and often win.

Only the most positive Italy supporter would suggest their nation will enjoy a deep run but the Azzurri - captained by Derbyshire veteran Wayne Madsen - will enjoy their debut global tournament, especially the fixture against England on Monday February 16.

2026 Men's T20 World Cup - full fixtures

All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports

Group stage

Saturday February 7

• Pakistan vs Netherlands (Colombo, 5.30am) - Group A
• West Indies vs Scotland (Kolkata, 9.30am) - Group C
• India vs USA (Mumbai, 1.30pm) - Group A

Sunday February 8

• New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Chennai, 5.30am) - Group D
• England vs Nepal (Mumbai, 9.30am) - Group C
• Sri Lanka vs Ireland (Colombo, 1.30pm) - Group B

Monday February 9

• Scotland vs Italy (Kolkata, 5.30am) - Group C
• Zimbabwe vs Oman (Colombo, 9.30am) - Group B
• South Africa vs Canada (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) - Group D

Tuesday February 10

• Netherlands vs Namibia (Delhi, 5.30am) - Group A
• New Zealand vs UAE (Chennai, 9.30am) - Group D
• Pakistan vs USA (Colombo, 1.30pm) - Group A

Wednesday February 11

• South Africa vs Afghanistan (Ahmedabad, 5.30am) - Group D
• Australia vs Ireland (Colombo, 9.30am) - Group B
• England vs West Indies (Mumbai, 1.30pm) - Group C

Thursday February 12

• Sri Lanka vs Oman (Kandy, 5.30am) - Group B
• Nepal vs Italy (Mumbai, 9.30am) - Group C
• India vs Namibia (Delhi, 1.30pm) - Group A

Friday February 13

• Australia vs Zimbabwe (Colombo, 5.30am) - Group B
• Canada vs UAE (Delhi, 9.30am) - Group D
• USA vs Netherlands (Chennai, 1.30pm) - Group A

Saturday February 14

• Ireland vs Oman (Colombo, 5.30am) - Group B
• England vs Scotland (Kolkata, 9.30am) - Group C
• New Zealand vs South Africa (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) - Group D

Sunday February 15

• West Indies vs Nepal (Mumbai, 5.30am) - Group C
• USA vs Namibia (Chennai, 9.30am) - Group A
• India vs Pakistan will not take place due to Pakistan boycott

Monday February 16

• Afghanistan vs UAE (Delhi, 5.30am) - Group D
• England vs Italy (Kolkata, 9.30am) - Group C
• Australia vs Sri Lanka (Kandy, 1.30pm) - Group B

Tuesday February 17

• New Zealand vs Canada (Chennai, 5.30am) - Group D
• Ireland vs Zimbabwe (Kandy, 9.30am) - Group B
• Scotland vs Nepal (Mumbai, 1.30pm) - Group C

Wednesday February 18

• South Africa vs UAE (Delhi, 5.30am) - Group D
• Pakistan vs Namibia (Colombo, 9.30am) - Group A
• India vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm) - Group A

Thursday February 19

• West Indies vs Italy (Kolkata, 5.30am) - Group C
• Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (Colombo, 9.30am) - Group B
• Afghanistan 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

• Y1 vs Y3 (Kandy, 1.30pm)

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

• Y3 v Y4 (Kandy, 1.30pm)

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)

Watch the Men's T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports from February 7 to March 8. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.