BCCI shortlists five Indian cities for 2026 T20 World Cup; final to be held in Ahmedabad
According to the current agreement between the ICC, BCCI, and PCB, India and Pakistan will continue to play all their matches at neutral venues until 2027
PTC Web Desk: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finalised five cities, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai, as venues for next year’s ICC T20 World Cup, with the grand finale set to take place in Ahmedabad.
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which hosted the 2023 ODI World Cup final between India and Australia, is once again slated to stage the tournament’s title clash. With a seating capacity of over one lakh, it remains the largest cricket stadium in the world. Unlike the previous edition that spanned across 10 Indian venues, the 2026 T20 World Cup will be confined to these five Tier-1 cities, expected to attract massive crowds throughout the event.
Sources say the International Cricket Council (ICC) will unveil the complete schedule for the February–March tournament next week. The upcoming T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka, which will serve as a neutral venue for Pakistan’s matches under a special arrangement agreed upon by India, Pakistan, and the ICC. Three Sri Lankan venues, including Colombo, are expected to host fixtures involving Pakistan.
As defending champions, India will aim to retain the title they won in Barbados in June last year.
According to the current agreement between the ICC, BCCI, and PCB, India and Pakistan will continue to play all their matches at neutral venues until 2027. If Pakistan qualify for the final, the championship match will be held in Sri Lanka.