Sri Lanka marked a memorable start to its co-hosting duties for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a grand trophy unveiling in Colombo. The event took place at the R. Premadasa International Stadium. It was held just before the first ODI between Sri Lanka and England.
In a stunning visual, professional skydivers descended from the sky carrying the ICC T20 World Cup trophy. Fans inside the stadium witnessed the silverware arrive in dramatic fashion. One diver carried the trophy safely to the centre circle after briefly skidding on the turf.
This moment marked the return of a major ICC tournament to Sri Lanka after 14 years. The country last hosted an ICC event in 2012. Earlier, the official launch of the Trophy Tour was held at the Presidential Secretariat.
Trophy Tour highlights Sri Lanka’s World Cup role
The stadium unveiling gave fans their first close look at the trophy. Sri Lanka is set to host between 20 and 22 matches during the tournament. Games will be played in Colombo, Pallekele and at the SSC Ground.
The R. Premadasa Stadium will host eight matches. These include the high-profile India vs Pakistan clash. Several other marquee fixtures will also be played at the venue.
The Trophy Tour will now move to Kandy, Dambulla and Jaffna over the next four days. Earlier this week, the trophy created another record moment. It crossed Adam’s Bridge, also known as Ram Setu, using a two-seater paramotor flight.
The World Cup is expected to boost tourism in Sri Lanka. Officials also believe it will help the local economy in 2026. Hotels, transport and local businesses are expected to benefit.
However, concerns remain around Bangladesh’s participation. Despite an ICC ultimatum, Bangladesh have refused to play matches in India.
They have cited security concerns.
The Bangladesh government and the BCB referred to the Mustafizur Rahman IPL incident. They believe safety issues have not been addressed properly. The situation continues to create uncertainty ahead of the tournament.
