With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 less than two months away, full-member nations have entered the final stage of their preparations. The tournament — scheduled from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka — will feature 20 teams, making it the biggest edition in T20 World Cup history.
Teams Lock In Final Warm-Up Fixtures
According to Cricinfo, full-member sides have now confirmed their preparatory schedules, and no additional bilateral series will be added before the event.
Pakistan are set to play six T20Is, beginning with a three-match series in Sri Lanka in January, followed by three home games against Australia. Australia will only participate in these matches and will not play any further fixtures before the World Cup.
England will also complete their warm-up phase in Sri Lanka, where they are scheduled for a three-match T20I series in January.
However, several sides — including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, and Zimbabwe — will enter the mega tournament without any T20 Internationals in the final stretch, raising questions about their match readiness.
India Busiest Ahead of the Tournament
Hosts India will undergo the most extensive preparation, playing 10 T20Is across December and January. Their schedule includes five home matches against New Zealand in January, in addition to ongoing fixtures this month.
South Africa will also enjoy a heavy preparatory run with eight T20Is, including matches at home and in India.
The West Indies will travel to South Africa for a three-match T20 series, while Sri Lanka — the co-host — are lined up for six home T20Is as part of their final build-up.
New Zealand will play five warm-up matches, while Australia, England and the West Indies each have three T20Is scheduled before the tournament.
With warm-up fixtures now locked in, teams are shifting focus to squad finalisation, strategy building and conditioning sessions ahead of the landmark 20-team event. The countdown to one of cricket’s most anticipated tournaments is now officially underway.
