With the countdown to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in full swing, England has officially announced a key white-ball tour of Sri Lanka next year. The tour, revealed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has been programmed as a dress rehearsal for the giant event, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. England's tour will feature three ODIs and a three-match T20I series, providing them with much-needed exposure to subcontinent conditions before their attempt to win a third T20 World Cup title. England's White-Ball Tour of Sri Lanka: A Crucial Warm-Up The ODIs start off the series, with January 22, 24, and 27, 2026, being the dates. The T20I leg follows a few days later with matches on January 30, February 1, and February 3, 2026. Although the venues have not been decided yet, Sri Lanka will provide England with some exposure to spin-friendly pitches like the ones encountered at the World Cup. This will be England's first white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in over seven years. They last visited in 2018, when they swept the ODIs 3-1 and also took the sole T20I game. England have traditionally enjoyed a good record against Sri Lanka in the shorter formats of the game, but conditions in the island nation tend to challenge even the best teams. Also Read | ICC Punishes Adam Zampa for Using Foul Language in 1st ODI vs SA The previous T20I encounter between the two teams was in ICC T20 World Cup 2022 which took place in Australia, in which England emerged victorious, beating Sri Lanka by four wickets in a deciding group game. This triumph was much needed as England went on to claim the championship, their second one after 2010. Both teams are currently involved in respective white-ball assignments. Sri Lanka will head to Zimbabwe in September for a three-T20I match series, and England will host South Africa for a T20I series starting September 10 in Cardiff. With the T20 World Cup looming, this tour is more than a bilateral series. It is about England, who faltered in the semi-finals of the previous edition in the West Indies and USA, tweaking their side, refining techniques against spin, and building momentum leading up to the big event.