Zimbabwe cricket has been handed a major boost with the confirmation of its place at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, following the official release of fixtures and groups for the global showpiece set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The tournament will run from February 7 to March 8, featuring 20 teams and marking one of the most expansive editions in the competition’s history.

Zimbabwe have been drawn into Group B alongside former champions Australia, hosts Sri Lanka, Ireland and Oman. The group promises to be one of the most competitive in the tournament, with Zimbabwe facing a stern test from established heavyweights while also battling rivals of similar standing for a place in the Super Eights. For the Chevrons, qualification into the tournament itself already represents a significant achievement, and the upcoming World Cup provides a golden opportunity to announce their resurgence on the world stage.

The opening day of the tournament will see six teams in action, with defending champions India beginning their title defence against the USA in Mumbai. India are chasing history as they attempt to become the first team to successfully defend a Men’s T20 World Cup crown. The group stage will run from February 7 to February 20, with 40 matches determining the top two teams from each group that advance to the Super Eights.

Group A features India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia, setting the stage for another blockbuster India-Pakistan clash scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. Group C includes two-time champions England and West Indies, alongside Bangladesh, Nepal and tournament debutants Italy. Group D brings together South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada and UAE.

Across the tournament, matches will be hosted at eight iconic venues spread across the two nations. In India, games will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Sri Lanka will host matches at the R. Premadasa Stadium and Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, as well as the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.

The Super Eights phase will begin on February 21, with the top four teams at the end of that round progressing to the knockout stages. The semi-finals are set for Kolkata or Colombo and Mumbai, before the title is decided on March 8 in either Ahmedabad or Colombo.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah through ICC Media, welcomed the return of the Men’s T20 World Cup to the subcontinent,  “It is wonderful to welcome the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup back to the subcontinent so soon after a groundbreaking Women’s Cricket World Cup. The passion for cricket in this region is unmatched, and fans have been waiting eagerly for another global spectacle".

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta echoed those sentiments, highlighting the competitive balance of the tournament and the global reach of the 20 participating teams drawn from five continents.  

"The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is expected to usher in a new era of global, marquee Cricketing events, both in terms of the athletic spectacle and fan experiences on offer. We have seen six different champions in less than two decades of the tournament’s history, which demonstrates the competitive nature of the competition".