If they qualify and aren’t drawn against India, Sri Lanka may host their 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
If Pakistan makes it to the semi-finals, they would play in Colombo, according to report in ESPNcricinfo. But Sri Lanka will host the first semifinal in Colombo if Pakistan is eliminated and they qualify to play a team other than India.
After the Super Eights, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the following semi-final logistics in a statement to all parties involved:
“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 does qualify and play anyone other than India, then Sri Lanka will play in semi-final 1 in Colombo,” it said.
In the event that neither Sri Lanka nor Pakistan qualify, the ICC also reaffirmed that the first semifinal will take place in Kolkata, while the second semifinal will take place in Mumbai. Unless they play Pakistan, in which case they will fly to Colombo, India will play in Mumbai if they advance to the semi-finals, regardless of who they are drawn against.
If India advances, their semi-final match will take place in Mumbai; if they are drawn against Pakistan, the match would go to Colombo. The semi-finals are set if neither Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or India advance: Kolkata’s Group 1 winner faces the Group 2 runner-up, while Mumbai’s Group 2 winner faces the Group 1 runner-up.
There is no possibility of a semi-final matchup between Sri Lanka and Pakistan because both teams are in Group 2 of the Super Eights.
This update addresses the November schedule, which did not identify Sri Lanka’s knockout matches but assigned Sri Lanka to Pakistan’s semi-final and final. Now, assuming qualification and a draw, Sri Lanka’s possible home advantage in the semifinals is certain.
The release added: “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.”
