Icc Changes Semi-Final Venue For World Cup Matches

On February 24, 2026, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a significant reshuffle of the semi-final fixtures for the ongoing T20 World Cup, causing considerable chaos among fans and stakeholders. The first semi-final will now be held at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo if Sri Lanka qualifies and faces any team other than India. This change comes as part of a floating arrangement, which was clarified in a communication to stakeholders after the Super Eights were finalized. The ICC stated, "Semi-final 1 is a floating arrangement with the match to be held in either Colombo or Kolkata," highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the venue based on team qualifications. If Pakistan does not make the semi-finals, and Sri Lanka qualifies, they will play in Colombo; otherwise, the match will revert to Kolkata on March 4, 2026. This marks a departure from earlier announcements made in November, which did not account for Sri Lanka's potential home advantage in the knockout stages (ESPN Cricinfo).