Australia have officially taken an early exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 following a rain washout in Ireland’s Group B clash against Zimbabwe at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. With three wins on the trot, Sri Lanka have already qualified for the Super 8 stage after they beat Australia. Oman were already eliminated from Super 8 qualification race.
With points being shared, Zimbabwe reach five points from three games with a game left. Australia will play their final game against Oman and even if they win, that would take them to maximum four points. Sri Lanka are on top of the group with six points from three games. Australia have lost against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Australia have been plagued by injuries before the start of the tournament. The 2021 champions lost Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood before they flew to Sri Lanka. To add more to the misery, captain Mitchell Marsh suffered an injury during training, resulting in testicular bleeding that left him out of the first two games. Travis Head led the side in the first two games.
Marsh did return to the playing XI against Sri Lanka with a fifty, but Australia’s hopes were further dashed by a Pathum Nissanka hundred at the same venue a night back. Notably, if Australia exit from the group stage, it would be the second time they will be meeting a similar fate.
T20 World Cup 2026 Group B points table
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | NR | Points | NRR |
| Sri Lanka (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +2.462 |
| Zimbabwe (Q) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +1.984 |
| Australia (E) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | +0.414 |
| Ireland (E) | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | +0.150 |
| Oman (E) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -4.546 |
The last time Australia exited a T20 World Cup in the group stages was back in 2009 in England, losing to Sri Lanka and West Indies.
What happens if IRE vs ZIM washes out?
- In case of a washout in the Ireland v Zimbabwe game, both teams will get one point each. That means, Zimbabwe will reach five points from three games while Ireland will finish at three points from four games.
- It would leave Australia with a possibility of maximum four points. Australia currently have two points from three games and play Oman in the last game of the group stage on February 20. Even if Australia win their last game, it would be enough to surpass or match Zimbabwe.
Catch the live action of theT20 World Cup 2026 with the completeT20 World Cup 2026 Schedule, and theT20 World Cup 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts for Most Runs in T20 World Cup 2026 and Most Wickets in T20 World Cup 2026.
