England will play a white-ball series in Sri Lanka in January 2026 as part of its build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The tour begins with a three-match ODI series starting January 22, followed by three T20Is from January 30. The fixtures will serve as key preparation for the World Cup, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, offering England crucial experience in subcontinental conditions as they chase a third T20 World Cup title, having previously won in 2009 and 2022.

This will be England’s first white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in over seven years. Its last visit came in 2018, when it won the ODI series 3-1 and also clinched the solitary T20I.

The teams last met in T20Is during the 2022 World Cup in Australia, where England secured a four-wicket win in the group stage on its way to the title.

Sri Lanka’s immediate assignment is a three-match T20I series away to Zimbabwe in September, while England hosts South Africa for a T20I series starting September 10 in Cardiff.

Series schedule

1st ODI – 22 January, 2026

2nd ODI – 24 January, 2026

3rd ODI – 27 January, 2026

1st T20I – 30 January, 2026

2nd T20I – 1 February, 2026

3rd T20I – 3 February, 2026

Published on Aug 20, 2025