We look at the sides in Group A – India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia – for the T20 World Cup, which is live on Sky Sports from February 7 to March 8.
India
Best result: Winners (2007, 2024)
2024 result: Winners
How did they qualify for 2026? Co-hosts
Head coach: Gautam Gambhir
Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.
Players to watch: Rinku Singh has been deployed as a middle-order finisher capable of holding his nerve in death overs to close chases or accelerate late. Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is a frequent match-winner in T20s when selected. Notable omission: Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill missed out after a quiet Asia Cup, with Samson and Abhishek Sharma preferred.
Round-one fixtures: vs USA (Mumbai, February 7); vs Namibia (Delhi, February 12); vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad, February 18)
Pakistan
Best result: Winners (2009)
2024 result: Group stage
How did they qualify for 2026? On T20 world ranking
Head coach: Mike Hesson
Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
Players to watch: With Haris Rauf omitted in favour of spin, left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi leads the pace attack with experience and yorker threat up front. Babar Azam remains one of the most stylish batters in the game and, when in form, can change matches from the middle order.
Round-one fixtures: vs Netherlands (Colombo, February 7); vs USA (Colombo, February 10); vs Namibia (Colombo, February 18)
USA
Best result: Super 8s (2024)
2024 result: Super 8s
How did they qualify for 2026? Through their performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup
Head coach: Pubudu Dassanayake
Squad: Monank Patel (captain), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.
Players to watch: Andries Gous, a breakout star in 2024, has made franchise impacts, including a 120* in the ILT20. Left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar, who engineered the USA’s Super Over win over Pakistan in 2024, remains a key new-ball and death overs option.
Round-one fixtures: vs India (Mumbai, February 7); vs Pakistan (Colombo, February 10); vs Netherlands (Chennai, February 13); vs Namibia (Chennai, February 15)
Netherlands
Best result: Super 19s (2014)
2024 result: Group stage
How did they qualify for 2026? Came through European Qualifier
Head coach: Ryan Cook
Squad: Scott Edwards (captain), Noah Croes, Max O’Dowd, Saqib Zulfiqar, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Paul van Meekeren, Fred Klaassen, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten.
Players to watch: Opener Max O’Dowd can clear the ropes and change momentum with big hitting. Roelof van der Merwe brings vast experience and wily spin that can be decisive in tight games.
Round-one fixtures: vs Pakistan (Colombo, February 7); vs Namibia (Delhi, February 10); vs USA (Chennai, February 13); vs India (Ahmedabad, February 18)
Namibia
Best result: Super 12s (2021)
2024 result: Group stage
How did they qualify for 2026? Came through Africa Qualifier
Head coach: Craig Williams
Squad: Gerhard Erasmus (captain), Zane Green, Bernard Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Malan Kruger, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, Jan Balt, Dylan Leicher, Willem Myburgh, Max Heingo. Reserve: Alexander Busing-Volschenk.
Players to watch: Louren Steenkamp, with a strong strike rate early in his T20 career, contributed across the African qualifier. Left-arm quick Ruben Trumpelmann impressed previously with in-swingers that troubled top batters, including removing Jos Buttler in 2024.
Round-one fixtures: vs Netherlands (Delhi, February 10); vs India (Delhi, February 12); vs USA (Chennai, February 15); vs Pakistan (Colombo, February 18)
Watch the Men’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports from February 7 to March 8. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.