Is England Touring Sri Lanka for a White-Ball Series Before the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- England's tour includes three ODIs and three T20Is.
- Harry Brook will captain the England squad.
- Valuable experience in subcontinental conditions is expected.
- This is England's first white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in over seven years.
- The matches are part of the preparation for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
London, Aug 20 (NationPress) England is set to embark on a tour of Sri Lanka for a series of three ODIs and three T20Is in January-February 2026, marking a significant step in their preparation for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
The squad, captained by Harry Brook, will kick off the tour with a three-match ODI series scheduled from January 22 to 27, followed by three T20Is from January 30 to February 3. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will reveal the venues for these matches in the near future.
This series in Sri Lanka aims to provide England with invaluable experience in subcontinental conditions as they strive for a third Men’s T20 World Cup title, having previously triumphed in 2010 and 2022.
Moreover, this will be England's first white-ball tour to Sri Lanka in over seven years, following their last visit in 2018, which resulted in a 3-1 ODI series victory and a win in a lone T20I. The two teams last clashed in a T20I during the 2022 World Cup, where England secured a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the group stage, leading them to the title at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
As for Sri Lanka, their next T20I challenge is a three-match away series in Zimbabwe, while England is set to host South Africa for the same number of matches starting on September 10 in Cardiff.
England Men’s tour of Sri Lanka:
1st ODI: England Men vs Sri Lanka Men, January 22, 2026
2nd ODI: England Men vs Sri Lanka Men, January 24, 2026
3rd ODI: England Men vs Sri Lanka Men, January 27, 2026
1st T20I: England Men vs Sri Lanka Men, January 30, 2026
2nd T20I: England Men vs Sri Lanka Men, February 1, 2026
3rd T20I: England Men vs Sri Lanka Men, February 3, 2026