A new cricket format called “Test Twenty” is set to debut in Colombo, Sri Lanka, bringing boys and girls into the same teams while keeping their innings separate.
The unique tournament will be played from November 14 to 29, 2026, with the winning team determined by the combined score of its boys’ and girls’ sides.
160 Young Cricketers to Take Part
According to the organisers, 160 young cricketers aged 13 to 21 will participate in the tournament. They will be divided into four continental teams, with each team comprising 20 boys and 20 girls.
Under the format, boys will compete against boys and girls will face girls. However, the results of both innings will be combined to determine the overall winner.
80 Overs With Two Distinct Formats
Each match will consist of 80 overs. The first 40 overs will be played during the day with a red ball and traditional white cricket clothing.
The remaining 40 overs will be played under floodlights using a white ball and coloured playing kits, creating a combination of traditional and modern cricket formats.
Former Cricket Stars Join Advisory Board
The tournament’s advisory board includes former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, former Australia opener Matthew Hayden and former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd.
Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma will head the global selection committee.
The tournament will be staged at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, with the final scheduled for November 29. According to the organisers, the matches are expected to be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network.
The new format will offer a distinctive experiment in youth cricket by combining separate boys’ and girls’ contests into a single team result.