Monday, 6th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 30th December 2025, 8:07 AM
Jofra Archer has been named in England’s provisional 15-man squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with Josh Tongue also receiving a call-up for the marquee global tournament. The event is scheduled to be held across India and Sri Lanka from February to March 2026. The announcement coincided with the release of England’s T20I and ODI squads for next month’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka.
Archer, a pivotal figure in England’s limited-overs setup, will not join the Sri Lanka tour as he continues his rehabilitation with the national medical team. The 29-year-old sustained a left-side strain during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide earlier this month. Tongue, meanwhile, earns his maiden T20I call-up, being selected for both the Sri Lanka tour and the provisional T20 World Cup squad. Fast bowler Brydon Carse will feature in the T20I squad for Sri Lanka but is not part of the provisional World Cup squad.
Eight members of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad have been retained, including newly appointed captain Harry Brook and former skipper Jos Buttler. The other retained players are Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid, and Jofra Archer. Notable omissions from the 2024 squad include Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Hartley, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Reece Topley, and Mark Wood. Meanwhile, new inclusions for 2026 are Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue, and Luke Wood.
England Provisional T20 World Cup & T20I Sri Lanka Tour Squads
| Player | Squad Inclusion | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Brook | T20 WC & Sri Lanka | Captain |
| Rehan Ahmed | Both | New inclusion |
| Jofra Archer | T20 WC only | Recovering from injury |
| Tom Banton | Both | Returning player |
| Jacob Bethell | Both | New inclusion |
| Jos Buttler | Both | Former captain |
| Brydon Carse | Sri Lanka only | T20I squad only |
| Sam Curran | Both | All-rounder |
| Liam Dawson | Both | New inclusion |
| Ben Duckett | Both | Retained |
| Will Jacks | Both | Returning from NZ absence |
| Jamie Overton | Both | New inclusion |
| Adil Rashid | Both | Retained |
| Phil Salt | Both | Retained |
| Josh Tongue | Both | Maiden call-up |
| Luke Wood | Both | New inclusion |
In the ODI squad, Zak Crawley has been recalled for the first time since December 2023, while Will Jacks returns after missing the recent New Zealand tour.
England’s tour of Sri Lanka will comprise three ODIs (22, 24, 27 January) at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, followed by three T20Is (30 January, 1 & 3 February) at Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy. These matches serve as crucial preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup, which begins on 7 February. England will open their campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on 8 February.
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