The T20 World Cup is set to return to Asia as India and Sri Lanka have been rewarded the rights to stage the tournament in 2026. The ICC made the mega announcement on Wednesday (August 17). India last hosted the T20 tournament in 2016 and 2020 (the tournament was played in UAE in 2021 due to COVID-19) while Sri Lanka will be hosting the tournament for the first time since 2012.
It will be the second time that two countries will jointly host the tournament. In 2024, West Indies and USA are scheduled to host the T20 tournament. It will be the first time when two countries will share the hosting rights.
In 2012, India made it to the 2nd round but crashed out without making it to the semi-final. In 2016, India lost to West Indies in the semi-finals. The Men in Blue had won the tournament in 2007. Sri Lanka are also one-time champion side – they lifted the trophy in 2014.
India is set host number of ICC events in the next cycle. In 2023, the 50-over World Cup will be played completely in India for the 2nd time. In 2025, India will be hosting the Women’s 50-over World Cup. In 2029, India will be hosting the Champions Trophy.
In another update, it has also been confirmed that India will play five-match Test series against Australia and England each in the 2023/27 cycle. It has also been announced that India will play Afghanistan in a one-off Test match. Afghanistan made their Test debut against India in 2018.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all my colleagues at the CEC for the historic Women’s FTP – the first of its kind and the continued spirit of partnership to conclude the Men’s FTP which provides certainty to all the members to develop their cricketing eco-systems as well as commercial programmes around their own calendars,” BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said.
