The 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is set to begin on February 7, 2026, with 20 teams competing for the prestigious trophy in a tournament jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka (Source: Al Jazeera, Hafsa Adil, 3 February 2026). Fans can look forward to a thrilling mix of cricketing giants and emerging nations, showcasing both seasoned stars and rising talents.
Defending Champions India Lead the Field
India, the defending champions, will enter the tournament under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20 internationals. The squad features a balanced mix of experience and youth, including Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. Sanju Samson will also feature as a backup wicketkeeper (Al Jazeera).
Hosts Sri Lanka Eye Historic Success
Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, will aim to make history on home soil. Their squad includes Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, and Pathum Nissanka (Al Jazeera).
Other Major Teams and Key Players
Australia, captained by Mitchell Marsh, brings a formidable lineup with Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Tim David, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis. England, under Harry Brook, features Jos Buttler (wk), Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, and Phil Salt (Al Jazeera).
Pakistan will be led by Salman Ali Agha, with Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, and wicketkeepers Khawaja Nafay and Usman Khan. Afghanistan, under Rashid Khan, will look to emulate their strong 2024 performance with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and Gulbadin Naib (Al Jazeera).
South Africa’s Aiden Markram leads a strong side including Quinton de Kock (wk), David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj. New Zealand, captained by Mitchell Santner, features Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert (wk), and Adam Milne (Al Jazeera).
Emerging Teams Bring Depth and Talent
Among emerging teams, Nepal will be led by Rohit Paudel with Aarif Sheikh, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee, and Sompal Kami. Oman, under Jatinder Singh, features Hammad Mirza (wk), Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmed, and Ashish Odedara. Canada, led by Dilpreet Bajwa, brings Ravinderpal Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), and Yuvraj Samra (Al Jazeera).
Ireland, captained by Paul Stirling, has Lorcan Tucker (wk), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, and Harry Tector in their squad. Italy’s team, under Wayne Madsen, features Harry Manenti, Jon-Jon Trevor Smuts, Ben Manenti, and Ali Hasan. Namibia, led by Gerhard Erasmus, includes Zane Green (wk), Ruben Trumpelmann, Jan Frylinck, and Bernard Scholtz (Al Jazeera).
The Netherlands will be led by Scott Edwards (wk) with Max O’Dowd, Roelof van der Merwe, Bas de Leede, Aryan Dutt, and Paul van Meekeren. Scotland, captained by Richie Berrington, fields Matthew Cross (wk), George Munsey, Michael Leask, and Safyaan Sharif (Al Jazeera).
The USA, under Monank Patel, has Andries Gous (wk), Shehan Jayasuriya, Shayan Jahangir, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Mohammad Mohsin. Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, features Brendan Taylor (wk), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande (wk), Blessing Muzarabani, and Dion Myers (Al Jazeera).
Tournament Outlook
Defending champions India and co-hosts Sri Lanka aim to lift the trophy at home, while Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand are all expected to be strong contenders. Afghanistan, with Rashid Khan at the helm, will look to replicate their 2024 success, and emerging nations like Nepal, Oman, Canada, and the USA hope to make a mark on the global stage (Al Jazeera).
With squads combining seasoned international stars and promising young players, the T20 World Cup 2026 promises unforgettable matches, high drama, and spectacular cricketing action for fans around the world (Source: Al Jazeera, Hafsa Adil, 3 February 2026).
