Rivals India and Pakistan will face off in Group A in next year’s 20-team tournament.
Published November 25, 2025
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will clash in a politically charged Twenty20 World Cup match to be held in Colombo on February 15, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the pairings on Tuesday.
The 20-team tournament will be played at eight venues, five in India and three in Sri Lanka, from February 7 to March 8, the ICC said in a statement.
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All matches will be played in Sri Lanka due to Pakistan’s deteriorating political relations with India.
The final on March 8 is scheduled for the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, but if Pakistan advances to the final, it will be moved to Colombo.
Military clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbors in May cast a shadow over the ensuing 2025 Asia Cup, with India refusing to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, president of the Cricket Council of Asia and Pakistan’s interior minister.
Teams in the tournament will be divided into five groups of four teams each, with the top two teams advancing to the Super Eight phase. The top four will qualify for the semi-finals.
Defending champions India will begin their Group A match against the US on February 7 in Mumbai.
Sri Lanka and Australia are in Group B, which also includes Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.
In Group C, two-time champions England and West Indies will face first-timers Italy, and Asian sides Bangladesh and Nepal.
Group D consists of New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.
