Afghanistan dominate, Zimbabwe stun Sri Lanka as group stage heats up in T20 World Cup

The league stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 delivered another action packed day on Thursday with commanding wins , standout performances and off field developments adding fresh drama to the tournament.

The Afghanistan national cricket team signed off their Group D campaign in style with a thumping 82 run victory over the Canada national cricket team in Chennai. Afghanistan piled up a formidable total on the back of a brilliant unbeaten 95 from Ibrahim Zadran , who anchored the innings with authority and composure. Canada struggled under scoreboard pressure and failed to mount a serious challenge, handing Afghanistan a dominant finish to their group journey.

In another crucial encounter, the Zimbabwe national cricket team continued their giant killing run by defeating the Sri Lanka national cricket team by six wickets in Colombo. Chasing a competitive target of 178, Zimbabwe showed remarkable belief and discipline to reach 182 for four with controlled aggression. The victory significantly boosts their semifinal hopes and reinforces their status as one of the surprise packages of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the West Indies cricket team finished their Group C campaign unbeaten after a convincing 42 run win over the Italy national cricket team in Kolkata. Shai Hope led the charge with a fluent 75, ensuring the Caribbean side heads into the knockout phase with strong momentum and confidence.

Off the field, controversy also surfaced as Pakistan all rounder Shadab Khan reportedly received a warning from the Pakistan Cricket Board over comments referencing victories against India and criticism of former players. The development added a fresh talking point to an already intense World Cup narrative.

Looking ahead to today’s schedule (20 February 2026) , the Australia national cricket team will face the Oman national cricket team in Kandy in a key Group B clash. Australia will look to assert dominance and strengthen their position as the race for the next stage intensifies.

As the group stages draw to a close, every match now carries enormous stakes, with teams fighting not just for wins but for qualification momentum in this fiercely contested T20 World Cup.