Sri Lanka could play their 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final at home if they make it to the knockout stage, depending on their opponent and the other countries that advance. If Sri Lanka is drawn against a side other than India, and Pakistan does not qualify for the semi-finals, the match will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
This seems to be a shift in terms of the original schedule announcement and event playing rules at ICC. The two countries hosting also lost in the Super Eight phase as India lost to South Africa and Sri Lanka lost to England respectively in their respective matches.
“Semi-final 1 is a floating arrangement with the match to be held in either Colombo or Kolkata. If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals, they will play in semi-final 1 in Colombo on 4 March. If Pakistan do not qualify for the semi-finals, but Sri Lanka do qualify and play anyone other than India, then Sri Lanka will play in semi-final 1 in Colombo,” the statement read as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
ICC has re-emphasized that in case neither Pakistan nor Sri Lanka is qualified to play the semi-finals the Semi-final 1 will be played in Kolkata and Semi-final 2 in Mumbai. India will be playing in Mumbai irrespective of their opponent in case they make the semi-finals. But, when there are India v Pakistan, it will be hosted in Colombo.
ICC Clarifies Semi-Final Match-Ups Amid Qualification Scenarios
Should India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka fail to qualify in the semi-finals, the team that tops Group 1 of the Super Eights will play second team of Group 2 in Kolkata. In the meantime, the winner, Group 2 will play off against the runners-up, Group 1 in Mumbai. There will not be any Sri Lanka-Pakistan semi-final as both Sri Lanka and Pakistan are in the same group, Group 2.
This move is a modification, or at least clarification, to the timeline that was announced in November. The previous announcement had ensured that they had planned that Pakistan would have their semi-final and final in Sri Lanka yet they had not stated what would happen in the event that Sri Lanka themselves qualified to the knockout stage.
“If Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals, Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium will replace Kolkata as the host of Semi-Final 1. Should Pakistan reach the final, that venue will also shift from Ahmedabad to Colombo. If India and Pakistan meet in the semi-finals, that match will be staged in Colombo, while Mumbai will host Semi-Final 2 involving India if they face any team other than Pakistan,” the release stated.
