Fans fume over Super 8 pre-seeding in T20 World Cup 2026, asking: “How can four winners be in one group?”

The Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on Saturday, February 21, but the tournament’s format has already sparked intense debate among fans. Eight teams have progressed to the next round and have been divided into two groups of four. However, the ICC’s pre-seeding system has drawn widespread criticism after all four group winners from the first round were placed together in the same Super 8 group.

As per reports, for the Super 8 stage, England, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were allocated positions Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4 respectively. Meanwhile, South Africa, Australia, India and the West Indies were slotted as X1, X2, X3 and X4. Zimbabwe, who advanced from the group stage, replaced Australia in the X2 position after Australia failed to qualify for the Super 8s.

Because India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) implemented a pre-seeding mechanism before the event began. The move was aimed at simplifying ticket sales, broadcasting schedules, logistical arrangements and fan travel planning. However, the system has resulted in South Africa, Zimbabwe, India and the West Indies being grouped together in Super 8 Group 1 notably, all four teams topped their respective groups in the opening round.

Group 2, in contrast, consists of England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand. The placement of all four first-round table toppers into a single group triggered sharp reactions on social media. Many supporters argued that the format undermines sporting integrity and reduces the importance of finishing first in the group stage.

On X, one fan wrote, “Your pre seedings prioritizes logistics over sporting integrity and fairness. 4 group winners in one group is crazy”. The Super 8 action begins on February 21, when New Zealand face Pakistan in Colombo. England will meet Sri Lanka in Pallekele on February 22, while India take on South Africa in Ahmedabad on the same day. On February 23, Zimbabwe will play the West Indies in Mumbai. England and Pakistan will clash in Pallekele on February 24, followed by New Zealand versus Sri Lanka on February 25. February 26 will see the West Indies face South Africa in Ahmedabad, while India meet Zimbabwe in Chennai.

The fixtures continue on February 27 with England playing New Zealand in Colombo, and Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka in Pallekele on February 28. The final round of Super 8 matches on March 1 will feature India against the West Indies in Kolkata and Zimbabwe versus South Africa in Delhi. As the Super 8 stage approaches, the focus now shifts to on-field performances but the debate surrounding the pre-seeding format is unlikely to fade anytime soon.