Colombo’s historic SSC Ground to light up for 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup

Colombo,Nov.27 (Daily Mirror_Mirror Sports) - The iconic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo is set to undergo a major transformation ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with the installation of floodlights and related upgrades now underway. The enhancements come as part of Sri Lanka’s preparations to co-host the tournament with India from 7 February to 8 March 2026. 

Until now, SSC has mostly hosted daytime matches — including women’s internationals and domestic fixtures — while day-night games in Colombo have typically been held at R. Premadasa Stadium (also known as Khettarama), the island’s highest-capacity ground. 

Under the new schedule, SSC will host five group-stage matches. The first fixture is slated for 7 February — a clash between the Netherlands and Pakistan — before the first floodlit match: Oman vs Zimbabwe on 9 February at 3:00 PM local time. The only night match at SSC will be between Pakistan and the USA on 10 February, scheduled to start at 7:00 PM. 

Cricket officials say the floodlights will not only enable SSC to host World Cup night games, but also open the door to future day–night Tests and domestic leagues under lights, potentially reshaping the landscape of Sri Lankan cricket. 

With floodlight installation now confirmed and in progress, SSC appears poised to reclaim its place among Sri Lanka’s premier cricket venues — this time, under the stadium lights.

List of T20 World Cup 2026 matches to be played at the SSC Ground in Colombo

• Feb 7 - Pakistan vs Netherlands (11 AM IST)
• Feb 9 - Zimbabwe vs Oman (3 PM IST)
• Feb 10 - Pakistan vs USA (7 PM IST)
• Feb 14 - Ireland vs Oman (11 AM IST)
• Feb 18 - Pakistan vs Namibia (3 PM IST)