Australian star Glenn Maxwell is seriously focusing on the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will host in February and March 2026, and the all-rounder is looking at an important role for his national team for the next T20 World Cup. 

As the next Men's T20 World Cup will be played in the subcontinent, the spinners will have to play an important role in the tournament. The 36-year-old Glenn Maxwell isn't only an aggressive middle-order batter, but he is also an effective off-spinner. In 123 T20Is, he has taken 49 wickets, while he also recorded 77 wickets in 149 ODIs. In his T20 career, the off-spinner has picked up 194 wickets in 485 games. 

[Watch] Glenn Maxwell takes stunning boundary catch to seal the victory in 1st AUS vs SA T20I

Glenn Maxwell ready to bowl in powerplay in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Off-spinner Maxwell wants to take the powerplay bowling responsibility during the forthcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. In the ongoing home T20I series against South Africa, Maxwell has shown his effectiveness with the ball in hand in the powerplay as he delivered two overs in the powerplays in each of the first two T20Is and picked up one wicket in each of those match, while conceding only 13 runs in two overs of powerplay in each game. 

Maxwell also added that he enjoyed taking wickets, but was also surprised by these successes. He is always present to do his job when his team needs him, including the powerplay bowling.

In the recently concluded West Indies tour, while Australia won the T20I series 5-0, Maxwell opened the innings for the last four matches in the absence of Travis Head. However, in the ongoing home T20I series against South Africa, Maxwell has returned to his familiar middle-order batting. The experienced cricketer has clarified that he is completely ready to bat at any position in the format.

Joe Burns, the former Australian opening batter and the current captain of the Italian cricket side, has penned down an emotional message after they made it through to their maiden T20 World Cup qualification for the 2026 season in India and Sri Lanka. The Brisbane-born decided to join this side after his brother passed away a couple of years ago. 

The final day of the Europe Qualifiers of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was a roller coaster with Jersey getting knocked out due to the Netherlands chasing their total a bit late. After being restricted to 134/7, Italy needed to hold the Dutch side for at least 15 overs to qualify. Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd got off to a powerful start, but Burns and his army stretched them back.

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“I don’t think words will ever describe my emotions to this team and this country. Sacrifice, dedication, and commitment to a dream - we have walked this path into the unknown together to our first World Cup. Guided by the inspiration of those at home, around the world, or looking down from above. For the ones who have gone before and for generations to come.” Burns expressed during a recent Instagram post after the qualification.

Joe Burns pens down emotional message after Italy’s maiden T20 World Cup qualification

With the bat, Italy kept losing wickets regularly in the first inning. A steady knock by Benjamin Manenti and a late powerful knock by Grant Stewarts pushed them to 134/7. Jersey lost the qualification path despite earning a victory against Scotland, which was their first win against this opposition.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Joe Burns (@joeburns441)

“As many as 15 teams have qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 so far, with the Asia Eastern part will see another three further teams getting the tickets, while two more sides will come from the Africa qualifier to make it through. I hope this team can be a beacon for everyone to connect through family, through sport, and a shared story. May those who walk with us forever be proud. Without them, we never would have dared to dream.” Joe Burns wrote.

It's a huge step for the country towards the future for the growth of the game, despite the lack of infrastructure and the emotions the fans currently have for the sport.

Netherlands and Italy have booked their places in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka. Netherlands finished at the top of the Europe Regional Final, winning three out of four matches. Italy made it through by a very small margin, beating Jersey on Net Run Rate (NRR).

Netherlands and Italy qualify for 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka

It was a close and exciting Regional Final, with Italy, Netherlands, and Jersey all fighting for a spot. Earlier on Friday, Jersey pulled off a last-ball win against Scotland. It was the first time Jersey had ever beaten Scotland in a T20 match. In the final game, Netherlands needed to beat Italy to qualify. Italy just had to make sure they didn’t lose by a big margin. Italy batted first and scored 134 for seven. Netherlands chased the target in 17 overs to win, but Italy’s better NRR kept them ahead of Jersey in the table.

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The 2026 T20 World Cup will have 20 teams. Hosts India and Sri Lanka are joined by Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, and the United States, who all reached the Super Eights last time. Pakistan, New Zealand, and Ireland qualified thanks to their T20 rankings. Canada also made it by winning the Americas Regional Final in June.

🇮🇹 𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗬 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝟮𝟬 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗨𝗣 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🏆

History has been created! The first ever CRICKET World Cup qualification for Italy it is! 💥

The Manenti brothers, Emilio Gay, Joe Burns and co. have brought a new spring to the cricketing generation of the… pic.twitter.com/sHCGiuO3At

— Cricketangon (@cricketangon) July 11, 2025

T20 World Cup 2026 Europe Qualifier table 

Cricketing eyes will turn to Oman this October as the Gulf nation hosts the all-important ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia-Pacific Qualifier. The event will determine three spots at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

A total of nine teams, including some experienced campaigners and rising forces, will descend on Oman for a 10-day tournament that runs from 8 to 17 October. The line-up features hosts Oman, fellow Asian sides Nepal, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Malaysia, and East Asia-Pacific challengers Papua New Guinea, Japan, and Samoa. Four of these teams, Oman, Nepal, UAE, and PNG, have played on the T20 World Cup stage before and will be keen to return.

The teams are split into three groups of three:

• Group 1: UAE, Malaysia, Qatar
• Group 2: Nepal, Kuwait, Japan
• Group 3: Oman, Papua New Guinea, Samoa

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Asia and East Asia-Pacific teams set for fierce T20 World Cup qualifying battles in Oman and Fiji

From October 12 to 17, the top two teams from each group advance to the Super Six stage. The top three finishers will then receive their tickets to the T20 World Cup. With the integration of the Asia and East Asia-Pacific regions into a single qualifying competition, this event marks a significant milestone in the ICC's redesigned pathway structure. It also gives associate nations a chance to demonstrate their advancements and assert their place at the international cricket table.

In the meantime, the ICC Women's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier for women will be held in Suva, Fiji, from September 9–15. In the Global Qualifier for England 2026, eight teams, including the hosts Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and the Philippines, will compete for a single spot. Both tournaments promise fierce competition and gripping tales on the path to cricket's biggest stages, with a lot on the line and nations eager for a breakthrough.

In a significant setback for Scotland's chances of getting direct qualification for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, their group match against Guernsey in the Europe Qualifier was called off without a single ball being bowled because of continuous rain at Sportpark Westvliet, The Hague, on Saturday. Toss never happened because the outfield was still too damp for play, and the officials had to call off the match early in the day.

Scotland, ranked among the favorites to advance from the five-nation tournament, is now under added pressure after losing points from a game that was supposed to be a comfortable one against a lower-ranked Guernsey team. The rainout evens out the playing field and offers a big chance to both Jersey and Italy, two teams still in the running to challenge for the top two qualification positions.

With only the top two from this round-robin tournament making it to the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year, each point is critical. Scotland had begun their campaign on a strong note, but the weather-triggered no-result interrupted the momentum and can have a long-lasting effect on their net run rate and table standing.

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Rain Forces No-Result in Key Clash, Qualification Race Wide Open

The abandoned match results in Scotland and Guernsey both getting one point. Underdogs of the group Guernsey might consider this a positive result against a much superior side, while Scotland will regret the missed chance to enhance their qualification effort.

The teams for the game consisted of a combination of tested campaigners and youth. Scotland's team was capped with known faces such as George Munsey, Richie Berrington, and Safyaan Sharif, whereas Guernsey had captain Oliver Nightingale and wicketkeeper Isaac Damarell.

As the event continues, Scotland will have to recover fast and win their other matches comprehensively. On the other hand, the likes of Jersey and Italy will be looking at this postponed match as a golden opportunity to disrupt the standings and fight for their position on the world stage. As the race to the World Cup intensifies, the weather has provided yet another element of uncertainty to an already closely fought tournament.

New Zealand has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe, marking the start of their preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. One notable absence is former captain Kane Williamson, who has made himself unavailable due to commitments with Middlesex in the County Championship and the London Spirit in The Hundred. This decision opens the door for younger players to step up in his absence.

The tri-series will serve as the first major international assignment for Rob Walter, New Zealand's newly appointed head coach. Walter stressed the significance of the tour, especially with the World Cup approaching. “I think we’ve got a really strong squad for this tour, and I’m looking forward to getting the team together and getting into the work. With the T20 World Cup around the corner, all of our upcoming series are critically important to our buildup. This series gives us the opportunity to test the breadth of our squad, explore different players, and potentially different combinations against some quality opposition,” Walter said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

A few regulars are missing from the tour. Lockie Ferguson has been rested, Ben Sears is out with a side strain, and Kyle Jamieson is unavailable due to personal reasons as he awaits the birth of his child. Devon Conway and Mitch Hay are also not part of the squad. Wicketkeeping duties will be handled by Tim Seifert. The team will be led by Mitchell Santner, while Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra make their return after missing the March series against Pakistan due to IPL 2025 commitments. Pacer Adam Milne also returns for the first time since November.

Walter banks on experience and new faces

Matt Henry, who had been sidelined with a shoulder injury since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, is back in the squad and will be eager to make an impact. Another exciting inclusion is 23-year-old uncapped batter Bevon Jacobs, who retains his place after touring with the side in Sri Lanka and is expected to make his debut during the series. “Adam’s a really skilled T20 bowler; he’s particularly proficient with the ball up front and brings that extra pace and bounce. With the likes of Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears, and Kyle Jamieson out, it’s great to be able to lean on an experienced head in Adam,” Walter added.

Welcome back Bevon Jacobs & Adam Milne 🤝 Full story | https://t.co/1jOONKyaso #CricketNation 📷 = @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/33CPm3uT0K

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 26, 2025

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This squad gives New Zealand an ideal chance to try new combinations and strengthen their bench strength ahead of the global tournament. With a good blend of experience and young talent, the BlackCaps will aim to fine-tune their plans under their new coach and captain.

New Zealand T20I squad for Zimbabwe and South Africa T20 Tri-Series 2025:
Mitchell Santner (C), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, and Ish Sodhi.