- Official ICC T20 World Cup trophy tour launched at the Presidential Secretariat
- Trophy to visit Colombo, Kandy, Dambulla and Jaffna until 24th December
- Tour aims to build excitement ahead of Sri Lanka co-hosting the 2026 World Cup
The official ICC T20 World Cup Trophy Tour was formally inaugurated today (21) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, marking the beginning of a four-day nationwide showcase ahead of the 2026 tournament co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India.
Cricket fans will have the opportunity to view the golden trophy up close during the Sri Lanka vs England ODI at the R. Premadasa International Stadium (RPICS) in Colombo, before the tour moves to Kandy, Dambulla and Jaffna. The initiative is aimed at generating excitement and building public interest in the lead-up to Sri Lanka hosting the biggest cricket event since the 2012 T20 World Cup.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will take place from 7 February to 8 March 2026, with 20 countries competing across 20 matches in Sri Lanka. The match venues are the R. Premadasa International Stadium (8 matches), Colombo SSC Ground (5 matches) and Pallekele International Stadium (7 matches). All matches involving Pakistan will be played in Sri Lanka, and if Pakistan reaches the semi-finals and final, Sri Lanka will host those matches as well, increasing the total to 22 matches.
The tournament is expected to deliver strong economic and social benefits for Sri Lanka, boosting tourism, foreign exchange earnings, and employment across multiple sectors including hospitality, transport, and technical services. Officials present at the launch included Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Gamage, Deputy Minister Sugath Tilakaratne, Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva, and members of the national team including captain Dasun Shanaka and head coach Sanath Jayasuriya.
