ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan to face Netherlands on Feb 7

LAHORE: Pakistan will kick-off their campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground (SSC) in Colombo on Saturday (February 7) against Netherlands as the fixtures for the 10th edition of the tournament were unveiled by the ICC.

The 2009 champions are placed alongside Namibia, Netherlands, India and USA in Group A in the 20-team tournament.

Pakistan will face United States of America (USA) on 10th February at the SSC before taking on India at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Sunday, 15th February. They will be up against Namibia at the SSC Cricket Ground on 18th February in their last group game.

The group stage will take place from February 7-20 before the Super Eight stage takes place from 21st February to 1st March as two teams from each group will advance to the next stage.

In the Super Eight Stage each team will play the other three teams of their group, getting three fixtures to stake a claim for the March 4 and 5 semi-finals. In Sri Lanka, the Super Eight Stage matches will be played in Colombo and Pallekele.

If Pakistan qualify, then the 4th March semi-final will take place in Colombo instead of Kolkata and the 8th March final will take place at the same venue as well instead of Ahmedabad. The 5th March semi-final is scheduled to take place in Mumbai.

Pakistan became champions of the second edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Lord’s in 2009, while they were runners-up in 2007 and 2022. In 2010, 2012 and 2021 Pakistan’s campaign ended in the semi-final.

Pakistan’s fixtures:

7 February – Pakistan v Netherlands at Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo

10 February – Pakistan v United States of America at Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo;

15 February – Pakistan v India at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo;

18 February - Pakistan v Namibia at Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo;

Super Eight Stage – 21 February – 1 March;

4 March – Semi-final 1 – Colombo/Kolkata;

5 March – Semi-final 2 – Mumbai;

8 March – Final – Colombo/Ahmedabad.

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