LAHORE: The Pakistan men’s cricket team has departed for Sri Lanka as preparations officially begin for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to run from February 7 to March 8. The national side will take part in the opening phase of the tournament in Sri Lanka before the competition progresses to later stages.
A 15-member squad, captained by Salman Ali Agha, is representing Pakistan in the global event. The touring party features several experienced campaigners, including former captain Babar Azam, pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, and aggressive opener Fakhar Zaman. The blend of senior players and emerging talent reflects Pakistan’s intent to mount a strong challenge in the shortest format of the game.
Following their arrival in Sri Lanka, the players will be given two days to recover from travel and adjust to local conditions. Team management has planned a structured schedule focusing on fitness, acclimatization, and tactical sessions ahead of competitive action. Practice drills and net sessions will follow as the squad shifts its attention toward match readiness.
Pakistan will play a warm-up match against Ireland on February 4 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. The fixture is expected to help the team fine-tune combinations and assess pitch behavior before the start of the group stage.
The same Colombo venue will host Pakistan’s first two group matches of the tournament. The Green Shirts will open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by a match against the United States on February 10. Pakistan’s third group-stage encounter is scheduled against Namibia on February 18.
As former T20 World Cup champions, Pakistan enter the tournament with high expectations from fans and analysts alike. The team’s recent performances in international T20 cricket have highlighted both strengths and areas needing improvement, making the upcoming World Cup a key test for the current leadership and squad depth.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s participation in the tournament has drawn attention due to the political backdrop surrounding their scheduled group-stage match against India. According to official directives issued by the Government of Pakistan, the national team will not take part in the February 15 fixture against their traditional rivals. Tournament organizers and international cricket authorities are expected to address the situation in accordance with event regulations.
Despite the off-field developments, Pakistan’s focus remains firmly on on-field performance as they aim to make a strong start to their World Cup journey in Sri Lanka. The team will look to build momentum in the group stage and advance deep into the competition as the tournament unfolds.
Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (WK), and Usman Tariq.
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