The official tour showcasing the ICC T20 World Cup trophy, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka in 2026, was formally inaugurated today (21) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The trophy will be displayed in several major cities across the island from today (21st) until the 24th, over a period of four days. Cricket fans will have the opportunity to see the golden trophy up close during the Sri Lanka vs. England One-Day International match at the R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo.
Subsequently, plans are in place to take the trophy to the cities of Kandy, Dambulla and Jaffna, providing cricket enthusiasts in those regions as well with the opportunity to take commemorative photographs with the World Cup trophy and view it. The primary aim of this tour is to generate excitement and build spectator interest in the lead-up to hosting a World Cup tournament in the country.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held from 7 February to 8 March 2026 under the co-hosting of Sri Lanka and India. This World Cup is the largest tournament Sri Lanka will host since the T20 World Cup held in 2012.
The tournament schedule was revealed on 25 November 2025 in India, where the International Cricket Council (ICC) selected the R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo, the Pallekele International Stadium and the Colombo SSC Ground as the venues for matches in Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, eight matches are scheduled at the R. Premadasa International Stadium, five matches at the Colombo SSC Ground and seven matches at the Pallekele International Stadium.
Twenty countries are set to participate in this tournament. Twenty matches of the tournament are scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka, with all matches involving the Pakistan team to be played in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, a special feature is that if the Pakistan team qualifies for the semi-finals and the final, Sri Lanka will also host those two matches.
In that event, the final will be held at the R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo, increasing the number of matches scheduled for Sri Lanka to 22.
Apart from the host nations Sri Lanka and India, Test-playing nations England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will be represented in this tournament. Additionally, the United States of America, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Namibia, Nepal, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are the other participating countries.
The T20 World Cup to be held in Sri Lanka at the beginning of 2026 can be considered an excellent opportunity to deliver effective value to the country’s economy, tourism industry, sports development, international promotion and society.
In particular, the arrival of teams, media groups and thousands of spectators, including foreign tourists, will generate significant foreign exchange earnings for the country. It is also expected to create short- and long-term employment opportunities in various sectors, including hotel and food and beverage businesses, transport services, and technical and operational services.
By Sri Lanka hosting this tournament, long-term benefits such as increased opportunities for new investments, recognition of Sri Lanka worldwide as a tourist destination, the identification of Sri Lanka as a year-round sports tourism hub, and the strengthening of Sri Lanka’s international profile—leading to an enhancement of the country’s value—will be attained.
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Gamage, Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Tilakaratne, Director General of Sports S. Achchudan, Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva, along with the Executive Committee, and a group including Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup team captain Dasun Shanaka and Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya were also present at the occasion. (PMD)