Sri Lanka recorded a spectacular beginning to its co-hosting duties for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a trophy unveiling at the R. Premadasa International
Stadium in Colombo. In a visually stunning moment, skydivers descended from the sky carrying the iconic trophy, before the first ODI between Sri Lanka and England.
The unveiling marked the return of a major ICC event to Sri Lanka for the first time since 2012. While the official launch of the Trophy Tour took place earlier at the Presidential Secretariat, the stadium ceremony provided fans their first close look at the coveted silverware. With Sri Lanka set to host 20-22 matches across Colombo, Pallekele, and the SSC Ground, the tournament is expected to play a crucial role in boosting tourism and the local economy in 2026.
The moment took place before the opening ODI between Sri Lanka and England. Professional skydivers parachuted into the ground in a synchronized descent, one of them carrying the ICC T20 World Cup trophy. While the landing was largely precise, the parachutes briefly skidded across the turf before the diver safely reached the centre circle.
Watch the video below:
Dropping in with some heavy metal! 🪂🏆
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) January 22, 2026
The ICC T20 World Cup Trophy has officially made its grand entrance at RPICS.#ICCTrophyTour #T20WorldCup #SriLankaCricket pic.twitter.com/M9nHKAQOgS
Meanwhile, the R. Premadasa Stadium, which will host eight matches during the tournament, including the India-Pakistan clash and other marquee fixtures. The trophy will now tour Kandy, Dambulla, and Jaffna over the next four days.
Apart from Colombo, the Trophy Tour had already delivered another record moment earlier this week by soaring over Adam’s Bridge (Ram Setu) via a two-seater paramotor flight. However, uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh’s participation has once again escalated. Despite an ICC ultimatum, Bangladesh has remained firm on its refusal to play World Cup matches in India due to security concerns, even at the risk of exclusion. The Bangladesh government and BCB have cited the Mustafizur Rahman IPL incident as evidence of unresolved safety issues, accusing the ICC and Indian authorities of failing to address their specific grievances.
