Ahmedabad, Kolkata shortlisted for T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals:ICC selects 8 venues for the mega tournament; showdown venue to be announced soon

The upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled for February-March 2026, is set to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has shortlisted eight venues for the mega tournament, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and Eden Gardens in Kolkata being chosen as potential venues for the semifinals. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will co-host the month-long event, which will feature 20 teams. The final venue, however, has not yet been decided, as the ICC plans to make the decision based on the teams that qualify for the title match — especially if Pakistan reaches the final. Semifinal and final venue scenarios The ICC has confirmed that if Sri Lanka or Pakistan qualify for the semifinals, that particular match will be played in Colombo for logistical and security reasons. If neither of those teams makes it to the last four, both semifinals will be played in India. Similarly, if Pakistan reaches the final, the match is expected to be hosted in Colombo. Otherwise, the final venue will likely be in India, though the ICC has not yet confirmed where. The final decision on the host city will depend on how the tournament unfolds. Eight venues across two countries According to ICC’s early discussions, five Indian cities, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata and three Sri Lankan cities, two in Colombo and one in Kandy, have been finalised as host venues. The ICC will soon announce the complete schedule and group stage details. The tournament will follow the same format as the 2024 T20 World Cup held in the USA and the West Indies. The 20 participating teams will be divided into four groups of five, followed by the Super Eights, semifinals, and the final. Teams and format details for T20 WC 2026 All 13 Test-playing nations have qualified, along with Canada, the Netherlands, UAE, Nepal, Oman, and Namibia. European side Italy will make their T20 World Cup debut. The Super Eights will have two groups of four, with the top two teams from each advancing to the semifinals. Defending champions India, who lifted the title in June 2024 by defeating South Africa, will look to retain their crown at home. BCCI and PCB officials meet in a private discussion Meanwhile, a recent meeting between Devajit Saikia (BCCI Secretary) and Mohsin Naqvi (PCB Chairman) took place outside of the ICC meetings, contrary to some reports. Sources confirmed that while ICC officials helped facilitate the meeting, it was not part of the official ICC agenda. The discussion reportedly focused on resolving issues related to the Asia Cup Trophy dispute, and officials described the meeting as ‘Cordial and constructive.’