Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga had been chosen as the event ambassador of the tournament by ICC.

Pakistan, the losing finalists in 2007, defeated Sri Lanka in 2009 tournament to become World T20 Champions, held in England.

The top two teams from each group A-D proceed to the Super Eight stage of the tournament.

[11] Within each group (both group stage & Super Eight stage), teams are ranked against each other based on the following criteria:[12] Teams from every ICC Region : Earlier, the ICC development committee had expanded the global qualification system for the World Twenty20, to give the Associate and Affiliate members of the governing body a chance to feature in the tournament.

The qualification tournament, which was contested by eight teams in February 2010, featured 16 sides when it was held in early 2012 ahead of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, later that year.

There were 27 matches played during the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, 12 in group stages, 12 in Super Eights, two Semi-finals and a final.