Cricket is set to introduce an innovative format, Test Twenty, in which boys and girls will play separate innings but contribute to the combined score of a single team. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from November 14 to 29, 2026.
According to the organisers, the competition will feature 160 young cricketers aged between 13 and 21, divided into four continental teams. Each team will consist of 20 boys and 20 girls.
Under the new format, male players will compete against male players, while female players will face female opponents. However, the overall winner will be decided by combining the scores of both groups. Each match will comprise 80 overs, split into two 40-over sessions.
The first session will be played during the day with a red ball and traditional white clothing. The second session will take place under floodlights, using a white ball and coloured kits.
The tournament’s advisory board includes former South African captain AB de Villiers, Australian cricket great Matthew Hayden and West Indies legend Clive Lloyd. Rajkumar Sharma, the childhood coach of Indian star Virat Kohli, will lead the global selection committee.
Matches will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, with the final scheduled for November 29. The organisers expect all matches to be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network.
The tournament aims to experiment with a format that brings boys’ and girls’ cricket together through a shared team score. Its reception among players and fans will help determine whether the concept gains wider popularity.
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