The Black Caps celebrate Jacob Duffy's third wicket in the fifth T20 against the West Indies in Dunedin. Photo / Photosport
The Black Caps have been grouped with South Africa for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup, while bitter rivals India and Pakistan have been clubbed together in the same group.
Matches in the tournament will be held from February 7 across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka.
New Zealand also have Afghanistan, Canada and UAE in their group.
South Africa, ranked one spot below New Zealand at fifth in the world, made the final at the last World Cup before falling seven runs short of winning a first white-ball tournament.
The Black Caps open the tournament against Afghanistan in Chennai on February 8 before taking on UAE at the same venue two days later.
New Zealand has a four-day break before the key clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad and then finish group play against Canada in Chennai on February 17.
Group play is followed by Super Eights with the top two teams in each group advancing.
Defending champions India and Pakistan have been placed in Group A in the 20-team competition being co-hosted by Sri Lanka.
It will be the first time the two teams play each other since their three heated contests at the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE, where they skipped the customary handshake at the toss and post-match greetings.
The Asia Cup was the first time they had met since a deadly border conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.
The T20 World Cup will see Pakistan playing all their matches in Sri Lanka, part of a compromise deal that allows both India and Pakistan to play at neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments.
Cricket-mad India, the world’s most populous nation, is the epicentre of the T20 game through its lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), boasting top global stars.
The tournament will use the same format as 2024 – 20 teams in four groups, before a Super Eights phase, with the top two finishers from each group making it to the playoffs.
The final will be played on March 8 either in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan go all the way.
India enter the sport’s 10th edition of the showcase T20 tournament as reigning champions, having beaten South Africa by seven runs in 2024 in Barbados.
Indian fans are dreaming of seeing their men’s team win a second time at home, after they clinched the 50-over World Cup in Mumbai in 2011.
India’s women celebrated a watershed moment this month, when the team won their first World Cup crown, beating South Africa in the final at Mumbai.
Indian broadcaster JioHotstar said the viewing figures of the final on their app matched that of the men’s T20 World Cup 2024 summit clash, a “staggering 185 million users”, according to the ICC.
“It is wonderful to welcome the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup back to the subcontinent so soon after a groundbreaking Women’s Cricket World Cup,” ICC chairman Jay Shah said.
“The passion for cricket in this region is unmatched, and fans have been waiting eagerly for another global spectacle.”
Alongside hosts India and Sri Lanka, top finishers from the 2024 edition taking part are Australia, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, United States and West Indies.
From Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe have qualified. From Europe, Ireland, the Netherlands and – for the first time – Italy are also playing.
Also included are Nepal, Oman and United Arab Emirates.
Ahmedabad, in the western state of Gujarat, is home to a 130,000-seater arena which is the world’s biggest cricket stadium, named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The city is in prime position to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with a final announcement on Wednesday.
India has its eyes on a bigger prize, having submitted a formal letter of intent last year to the International Olympic Committee to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.
Groups and venues for 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup
Group A : India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
Group B : Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Group C : England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy
Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
Venues:
India: Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai
Sri Lanka: Colombo (R. Premadasa Stadium and Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground), Kandy
* Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka.
- with AFP