Sri Lanka could play a home semi-final at the 2026 T20 World Cup if a specific set of qualification scenarios falls into place, following a clarification from the ICC on the tournament’s logistics.
The ICC has confirmed that Semi-final 1 is a floating fixture that will be staged either in Colombo or Kolkata, depending on which teams qualify. If Pakistan reach the last four, they will play Semi-final 1 in Colombo on March 4. However, if Pakistan fail to qualify but Sri Lanka make the semi-finals and are drawn against any team other than India, the match will also be held at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
If neither Pakistan nor Sri Lanka qualify, Semi-final 1 will be played in Kolkata, with Semi-final 2 in Mumbai. India, if they reach the semi-finals, are scheduled to play in Mumbai regardless of opposition — unless they face Pakistan, in which case that match will be moved to Colombo.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan are both in Group 2 of the Super Eight stage, meaning they cannot meet in the semi-finals.
The clarification marks a shift from the original schedule announced in November, which outlined provisions for Pakistan’s matches being relocated to Colombo but did not specify what would happen if Sri Lanka themselves advanced to the knockouts.
With qualification scenarios still unfolding, the prospect of Sri Lanka playing a World Cup semi-final at home now hinges not only on their own performance, but also on results elsewhere in the competition.