KEY POINTS
- All eight teams start Super Eight round with zero points; no net run rate is carried forward from the group stage.
- Pakistan has been drawn in competitive Group 2 alongside England, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
- Hosting cities for the semi-finals and final depend on the qualification of Pakistan and India.
- Pakistan will kick off their Super Eight campaign against New Zealand on February 21 in Colombo.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan secured their place in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after an emphatic 102-run victory over Namibia at the SSC ground in Colombo.
The win not only capped off their Group A campaign on a high note but also finalised the line-up for the tournament’s crucial second round, where points will reset and every match becomes a virtual quarter-final.
Super Eight Groups and Format
Following Pakistan’s qualification, the eight teams advancing to the next phase have been locked in.
The Super Eight stage will feature India and Pakistan from Group A, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from Group B, West Indies and England from Group C, and South Africa and New Zealand from Group D.
These eight sides have been divided into two groups of four, with all first-round records wiped clean.
Group 1 consists of India, Zimbabwe, West Indies and South Africa, while Group 2 brings together England, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In this round-robin format, each team will play the other three sides in their group once, starting from zero points with no net run rate carried forward from the preliminary stage.
Pakistan’s Road to the Semi-Finals
The Salman Ali Agha-led unit will begin their Super Eight journey against New Zealand on Saturday, February 21 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with the match scheduled for a 6:30 pm local time start.
Following the opening fixture, Pakistan’s remaining Group 2 engagements are:
February 24: Pakistan vs England at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy (6:30 pm)
February 28: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy (6:30 pm)
At the conclusion of the Super Eight phase, the top two teams from each group will earn qualification for the semi-finals.
Conditional Knockout Venues Based on Team Progress
The hosting arrangements for the tournament’s knockout matches contain specific conditions tied to team qualifications.
The first semi-final is fixed for March 4 in Colombo, but will be relocated to Kolkata should Pakistan fail to reach the last four.
The second semi-final is set for March 5 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. If India progress to the semi-finals, they will feature in this match at the Mumbai venue.
For the final, the championship match will be hosted in Colombo if Pakistan qualify. Otherwise, the title decider will shift to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Reserve days have been allocated for both semi-finals and the final to ensure the completion of play.
