Defending champions India and Pakistan have been placed in Group A in the 20-team competition being co-hosted by Sri Lanka, according to the schedule released by the International Cricket Council in Mumbai.
It will be the first time the two teams play each other since their three heated contests at the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE, where they skipped the customary handshake at the toss and post-match greetings.
The Asia Cup was the first time they had met since deadly border conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.
The T20 World Cup will see Pakistan playing all their matches in Sri Lanka, part of a compromise deal that allows both India and Pakistan to play at neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments.
Matches in the tournament will be held from February 7 across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka.
Cricket-mad India, the world’s most populous nation, is the epicentre of the T20 game through its lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), boasting top global stars.
The tournament will use the same format as 2024 – 20 teams in four groups, ahead of a Super Eights phase, with the top two finishers from each group making it to the playoffs.
The final will be played on March 8 either in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan go all the way.
India enter the sport’s 10th edition of the showcase T20 tournament as reigning champions, having beaten South Africa by seven runs in 2024 in Barbados. (AFP)
