Former champions Australia have been eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2026, with Zimbabwe securing a spot in the Super 8s after their match against Ireland was abandoned without a toss at the Pallekele International Stadium. The washout resulted in both teams receiving one point each, propelling Zimbabwe to five points in the standings. This outcome dashed Australia’s hopes of progressing, as they can only reach four points even if they win their last match, falling short of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Group B standings.
The abandoned match also spelled the end for Ireland in the group stage. Despite a strong rebound with a 96-run victory over Oman, Ireland’s campaign concluded with just three points. Zimbabwe, now facing a challenging Super 8 group, must compete against India, South Africa, and West Indies to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Ahead of the Super 8s, Sikandar Raza’s team will confront co-hosts Sri Lanka in their final group stage match. Zimbabwe, having missed out on the previous T20 World Cup, clinched their spot this time by topping the Africa qualifiers. Victories over Oman and Australia propelled them to the Super 8 stage, marking a successful qualification campaign.
