After India’s heartbreaking defeat in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final, Ahmedabad’s iconic Narendra Modi Stadium will host another major summit clash as the venue has been earmarked to host the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final next year, with the Men in Blue aiming to defend the title.
As per a report by ESPNcricinfo, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalised the dates for the tournament, which will take place from February 7th to March 8th. The published information claims that all boards have been informed of the window for the tournament, while the schedule is still being finalised.
For those unversed, India and Sri Lanka are the co-hosts of the tournament. The tournament will be played in the same format as the 2024 edition. A total of 20 teams will take part and be divided into four groups of five each.
The Pakistan Twist To Ahmedabad’s Hopes
While Ahmedabad has been handed the rights to host the final on 8th March, even Colombo will be listed as a venue in the final. If Pakistan manage to qualify for the final, the summit clash will take place at the R Premedasa Stadium.
This is part of an arrangement made last year between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the ICC ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT) last year where it was neither India nor Pakistan would play an ICC tournament on each other’s soil. Last year, Lahore was supposed to host the CT final, but India advanced to the final, which meant it was held in Dubai.
A similar arrangement is in place for the 2025 Women’s World Cup, where Navi Mumbai is scheduled to host the summit clash on November 2, but if Pakistan make the final, it will be held in Colombo.
The mega event is being played in a hybrid model with India and Sri Lanka hosting the matches.