Australia knocked out of T20 World Cup 2026 as Super 8 hopes end

The Australian cricket team’s hopes to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage was doused for good after Zimbabwe’s match against Ireland in Group B at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy was washed out on Tuesday.

With both Zimbabwe and Ireland receiving one point each for the abandoned match, the Chevrons are now guaranteed a top two finish in Group B and consequently qualified for the Super 8 stage.

Tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka have also qualified for the Super 8 stage with six points from three matches. Zimbabwe have five points from three and are placed second.

Ireland, having already played their four matches, are on three points, while Australia, who face last-placed Oman in their final group game on Friday, are fourth with two points from three games.

World No. 2 Australia, the 2021 T20 World Cup winners, began their campaign with a convincing 67-run against Ireland last week but suffered a shock 23-run loss against Zimbabwe in their next match.

Up against co-hosts Sri Lanka in their penultimate group match, Australia squandered a good start and lost by eight wickets - a result which took them to the brink of elimination.

Tuesday’s result between Zimbabwe and Ireland rubber stamps Australia’s group stage exit from the T20 World Cup 2026. Even if the Aussies beat Oman by an overwhelming margin, it won’t be enough to displace either Sri Lanka or Zimbabwe from the top two.

The Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe match on Friday will decide the Group B winner.

This marks only the second occasion in 10 editions of the T20 World Cup that Australia have failed to progress beyond the group stage.

The first instance was back in 2009 when a Ricky Ponting-led side lost both their matches and finished bottom of their group behind Sri Lanka and West Indies.

Australia reached the Super 8 in the last edition held in 2024.

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