The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 7, with Group B action getting underway a day later when co-hosts Sri Lanka face Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Group B features a fascinating mix of traditional powerhouses and dangerous outsiders. Alongside Sri Lanka, the group includes 2021 champions Australia, as well as Zimbabwe and Oman, making it a pool where surprises are firmly on the table.
All Group B matches will be played exclusively in Sri Lanka, across Colombo and Kandy, with conditions expected to place a premium on spin, adaptability, and smart game management.
T20 World Cup Group B Points Table
(Standings will be updated as matches are completed)
| Team | PL | W | L | NR | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ireland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zimbabwe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fixtures and Results (All times local)
| Date | Match | Time | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 8 | Sri Lanka vs Ireland | 7:00 PM | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | TBA |
| Feb 9 | Oman vs Zimbabwe | 3:00 PM | SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo | TBA |
| Feb 11 | Australia vs Ireland | 3:00 PM | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | TBA |
| Feb 12 | Sri Lanka vs Oman | 11:00 AM | Pallekele, Kandy | TBA |
| Feb 13 | Australia vs Zimbabwe | 11:00 AM | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | TBA |
| Feb 14 | Ireland vs Oman | 11:00 AM | SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo | TBA |
| Feb 16 | Sri Lanka vs Australia | 7:00 PM | Pallekele, Kandy | TBA |
| Feb 17 | Ireland vs Zimbabwe | 3:00 PM | Pallekele, Kandy | TBA |
| Feb 19 | Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe | 3:00 PM | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | TBA |
| Feb 20 | Australia vs Oman | 7:00 PM | Pallekele, Kandy | TBA |
T20 World Cup Group B Talking Points
Australia enters the tournament wounded after a 3-0 T20I series defeat to Pakistan and without
key pacers, but still boasts immense batting depth through Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Marsh. Sri Lanka, playing all their games at home, will lean heavily on spin stars Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.
Ireland and Zimbabwe bring momentum and fearlessness, while Oman has quietly built a reputation for springing surprises. With every team playing four group matches, consistency will decide who advances to the Super Eight stage.
T20 World Cup Group B squads:
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor
Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Oman: Jatinder Singh (c), Vinayak Shukla, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmad, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Shah Faisal, Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Jay Odedra, Shafiq Jan, Ashish Odedara, Jiten Ramanandi, Aamir Kaleem
