2026 T20 World Cup: India, Pakistan in same group, to play each other on Feb 15 in Colombo
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Mumbai (PTI): Traditional rivals India and Pakistan have been clubbed in Group A for the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup and will meet in Colombo on February 15, as the ICC unveiled the schedule of the showpiece here on Tuesday.
The Indian government has barred all bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year, but has permitted contests between the two nations in multinational events.
With the BCCI and PCB agreeing to face each other only at neutral venues until the FTP is redrawn in 2027, Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, including the fixture against India at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Despite India-Pakistan contests being lopsided in recent years, the rivalry continues to draw massive global interest.
The recently concluded T20-format Asia Cup, seen as a precursor to next year's World Cup, featured three Indo-Pak clashes including the final, all scheduled on Sundays to maximise viewership.
Eight venues finalised
Eight venues, five in India and three in Sri Lanka, will host the 55 matches.
The 20-team tournament, which includes debutants Italy, will be divided into four groups of five with eight teams progressing to the Super Eight stage. Four teams will then make the semifinals, slated to be held in Kolkata or Colombo and Mumbai.
The final will take place in either Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on Pakistan’s qualification.
Reigning champions India begin their title defence against USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumabi on February 7, followed by a match against Namibia in Delhi on February 12.
They then travel to Colombo for the high-profile clash against Pakistan before finishing the league phase against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18.
"The group (A) looks quite decent. It's a T20 format, you never know which team has a good day on a given day. It's all about two batters coming out and two bowlers having a good day," said India captain Suryakumar Yadav.
"(We are) playing in good venues… Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad. And then you talk about the game (against Pakistan) on the 15th, I think we played them recently during the Asia Cup and we had a good time. Everything was completely focused on cricket, nothing else as you must have seen.”
"I'm sure it will be a good game. Boys are always excited to have an India-Pak game,” he added.
The tournament will feature 55 matches. ICC chairman Jay Shah made the announcement while unveiling the tournament's schedule.
Group B features Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe an Oman while Group C will have England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal and Italy. Group D comprises New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada and UAE.
Rohit is tournament ambassador
Rohit Sharma, who led India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title, has been named the tournament ambassador. One of India’s most prolific T20I batters, Rohit finished his career in the format with 4,231 runs at an average of 32.01 and a strike-rate of 140.89.
Having retired from T20Is after India’s triumph in the Americas, Rohit said he continues to stay in touch with the national players.
"I keep meeting all these guys; I’m still playing. I’m going to Ranchi (for the ODIs against South Africa) and will meet some of them there. There’s always conversation happening — I like to talk, discuss, understand their mindset," he said.
"I've always been someone who gives advice when required or just hears them out. But these guys have been on a great run. I don’t think much needs to change. Their final prep will be around the New Zealand series when they should start firming up their 15," he said.
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Jai Bhim: Slogan that energised Dalits was first given at this central Maharashtra village
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (PTI): 'Jai Bhim': These two words have come to symbolise the awakening and empowerment of the Dalit community in independent India, but not many people know how it originated.
The slogan, which also encapsulates the immense reverence in which Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is held, was first raised at the Makranpur Parishad, a conference organised at Makranpur village in Kannad teshil of today's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in Maharashtra.
Ambedkar, the chief architect of India's Constitution, died on December 6, 1956.
Bhausaheb More, the first president of the Scheduled Castes Federation of Marathwada, organised the first Makranpur Parishad on December 30, 1938.
Dr Ambedkar spoke at the conference and asked the people not to support the princely state of Hyderabad under which much of central Maharashtra then fell, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Pravin More, Bhausaheb's son.
"When Bhausaheb stood up to speak, he said every community has its own deity and they greet each other using the name of that deity. Dr Ambedkar showed us the path of progress, and he is like God to us. So henceforth, we should say 'Jai Bhim' while meeting each other. The people responded enthusiastically. A resolution accepting 'Jai Bhim' as the community's slogan was also passed," More told PTI.
"My father came in contact with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in his early years. Bhausaheb was aware of the atrocities the Nizam state committed on Dalits. He told Ambedkar about these atrocities, including the pressure to convert. Dr Ambedkar was strongly against these atrocities, and he decided to attend the 1938 conference," he said.
As Ambedkar was against the princely states, he was banned from giving speeches in the Hyderabad state but was allowed to travel through its territories. The Shivna river formed the border between Hyderabad and British India. Makranpur was chosen as the venue for the first conference because it was on the banks of Shivna but lay in the British territory, ACP More said.
The stage made of bricks, from where Dr Ambedkar addressed the conference, still stands. The conference is organised on December 30 every year to carry forward Ambedkar's thought, and the tradition was not discontinued even in 1972 when Maharashtra experienced one of the worst droughts in it history.
"My grandmother pledged her jewellery for the conference expenses. People from Khandesh, Vidarbha and Marathwada attended it. Despite a ban imposed by the Nizam's police, Ambedkar's followers crossed the river to attend the event," said ACP More.
"This is the 87th year of Makranpur Parishad. We have deliberately retained the venue as it helps spread Ambedkar's thought in rural areas," he added.
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