England to play white-ball series in Sri Lanka ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

England to tour Sri Lanka for white-ball series ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup. (Photo source: Getty Images)

England men’s cricket team, led by Harry Brook, will tour Sri Lanka in early 2026 for a white-ball assignment as part of their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, set to be held later in the year.

The tour will feature a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, beginning on Thursday, January 22 and concluding on Tuesday. The ODIs will be followed by a three-match T20 International (T20I) series, starting on Friday, January 30 and wrapping up on Tuesday, February 3. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is yet to confirm the venues for the tour.

The T20I series holds particular significance for England, serving as vital preparation for the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. England, winners of the tournament in 2010 and 2022, fell short in the previous edition, bowing out in the semi-finals against India. The Three Lions would want to make it count this time round for their record-breaking third triumph.

The Englishmen last visited the island nation in January 2021 for a two-Test series, which they won 2-0. The next meeting between the two sides on English soil is scheduled for September 2026, when Sri Lanka will tour for three ODIs and three T20Is.

The Three Lions’ most recent assignment was the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against India, which ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Their next challenge will come against South Africa in September 2025, featuring both T20I and ODI series. The Proteas, currently touring Australia, lost their T20I series 1-2 but began their ODI campaign with a win.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are gearing up for the Asia Cup 2025, which begins on September 9 in the UAE and runs until September 28. They will open their campaign against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on September 13. The squad announcement for the continental tournament is still awaited, whereas teams like India and Pakistan have already named their combination.

England tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Schedule