The 20-team competition for the T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 07 with the defending champions, India, starting their campaign against the United States of America (USA) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the evening. Pakistan will play the curtain raiser in the morning of the same day against the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo.

Five teams are divided into four groups of five each. Every team will lock horns in four encounters in the group stage, and the top two teams will then qualify for the Super 8s. The tournament rules suggest that every team will get two points. If it gets washed out due to rain, then both will get one point each. In case of a tie, teams will face each other in a super over, and the process will continue unless a winner comes out.

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If two teams end the group stage or the Super 8s with equal points, then the position will be decided based on net run rate (NRR). A team’s NRR is calculated by deducting from the average runs per over scored by that team in its group the average runs per over scored against that team in its group.

Can Pakistan qualify after forfeiting India clash in T20 WC 2026?

Pakistan, as per the current schedule, has forfeited the clash against India on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo. In that circumstance, where a match is awarded to a team as a result of the other team’s refusal to play, the match net run rate of the defaulting team shall be affected in that the full 20 overs of the defaulting team’s innings.

In case of the forfeited match, it shall be taken into account in calculating the average runs per over of the defaulting team over the course of the relevant portion of the competition. For the avoidance of doubt, the runs scored and overs bowled in such a match will not be taken into account.

There is no reserve day for the group stage and Super 8s matches. Every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day with the necessary reduction in overs. The two semifinals and the final of the event will have a reserve day each.