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Franchise leagues are adjusting schedules for the 2026 T20 World Cup, likely from Feb 10 to Mar 8. SA20, ILT20, PSL, and BPL plan changes to avoid clashes and accommodate stars.
The SA20 has already changed its window due to the T20 World Cup 2026.
Franchise leagues around the world have already started to find windows for the 2026 editions of their flagship competitions after reportedly learning that the next edition of the men’s T20 World Cup could be between February 10 to March 8. According to Cricbuzz, the leagues have been informed about February 10 being the likely start date though they are waiting for confirmation on the final.
The organizers of the UAE’s International League T20, South Africa’s SA20, and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) have changed their windows this year to accommodate the 2025 upcoming Champions Trophy. The same is expected for the T20 World Cup, too. The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) might also be affected.
The SA20 has already confirmed the next season’s window — from December 26 to January 26. South Africa has no international assignments during that phase and have also done away with the customary annual Boxing Day Test fixture at Centurion. The report said the ILT20 is likely to start on January 4 and end on February 1, 9 days before the possible start date of the T20 World Cup.
The PCB could be in big trouble because of this, too. The PSL runs in this February-March window every year. The board had already taken the tough decision to schedule PSL 2025 from April 8 to May 19, in the middle of the IPL, due to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE.
They’ll have to do the same next season to avoid having the league during the holy Ramadan month. It means the tournament will lose the services of some of the biggest international stars who’d prefer the much-more lucrative IPL.
As for BPL, this year it started on December 30 and the final will be held on Friday, February 7. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) can’t afford a similar window for the next season and is planning to change the dates.
“Look, if we want good foreign cricketers to take part in BPL we cannot fight with ILT20. We need to play BPL in such a time that it is not clashing with ILT20,” BCB president Faruque Ahmed told Cricbuzz.
The report said that Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), traditionally played in December-January, might also need tweaks to the window.
