Group B Preview: Co-hosts' big opportunity at T20 World Cup
Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka aim to carefully navigate their way through a pool featuring teams on the rise. Here's how it all stacks up in Group B.
What an opportunity co-hosts Sri Lanka have to qualify in pole position of the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
There is no question they saw what happened when Australia, Group B's top-ranked team, recently toured Pakistan. The Aussies are struggling for form and won't be at full strength.
This group is there for the taking and may prove to deliver some shock results.
Each group for the Men's T20 World Cup 2026
All four groups have been announced for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Sri Lanka, a well established cricketing force, sit eighth in the current ICC T20I Rankings. Individually, they have some of the top-ranked batters on the planet and highly-ranked bowler Wanindu Hasaranga. The leg-spinner also doubles as the side's key all-rounder.
The Sri Lankans will pose a massive threat to Australia, who are currently the second-ranked T20I team. But after being stunningly outplayed in Pakistan, the Aussies have never looked more vulnerable.
The rest of Group B, consisting of Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman, will all see a potential opening to shock the world and cause a boilover or two.
Wanindu Hasaranga: superstar all-rounder leading Sri Lanka with ball - and bat! | T20WC 2022
Group B Teams
Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
One Player to Watch
Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka)
Nissanka was the 10th-fastest to 2000 runs in T20I cricket history and the Sri Lankan opener will be tasked with setting the tone for the co-hosts' batting innings.
He averages a tick above 30, across 84 games, with a strike rate of 127.25 against all opponents. In their recent three-game series against England, he scored a combined 80 runs at 148.14 SR.
Nissanka is firmly inside the T20I batting rankings top 10.
In 10 innings against Group B rivals Australia, his strike rate sits at only 108. Nissanka will be hungry to aggressively take down their bowlers in conditions he'll be all-too familiar in.
Look out for his trademark rope-clearing switch hit prowess.
Group B Squads
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor
Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Oman: Jatinder Singh (c), Vinayak Shukla, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmad, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Shah Faisal, Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Jay Odedra, Shafiq Jan, Ashish Odedara, Jiten Ramanandi, Aamir Kaleem