Category: Cricket

COLOMBO: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha said on Saturday that his team had been “always ready” to face India on Sunday at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, despite only being given the green light a few days ago.

The biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket has sold out the 35,000-capacity R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with hundreds of millions more expected to watch on television.

The game was only confirmed as going ahead late on Monday night after the Islamabad government made a U-turn on its order to boycott the blockbuster Group A game.

“This is a very big game, and the magnitude is huge,” Agha said ahead of the team’s practice at the stadium on Saturday. “We were always ready for the game, whatever the decision.”

Pakistan had a scrappy last-over three-wicket win in their first match against the Netherlands before beating the United States by 32 runs. India have also won both their matches so far.

“We are in good momentum, and I hope that being in Colombo since the start will help us in terms of conditions,” said Agha. “We have to play good cricket to win the match.”

The hugely anticipated match could be hit by bad weather, with rain forecast for Sunday evening.

Agha believed spin would dominate, calling Tariq Usman his trump card against India’s powerful batting line-up.

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“Tariq has been bowling well, and I am sure the mystery element will make him our trump card,” Agha said, brushing aside doubts over the legality of Tariq’s unique sling-arm action and the exaggerated pause in his delivery stride.

“He has been cleared twice, so there are no worries.”

Salman Ali Agha hoped the players would shake hands, unlike during their three Asia Cup matches in Dubai last year.

“The game should be played in the true spirit of the game,”  said Agha. “It has been the norm in cricket for years, but whatever way they want, we will only know tomorrow.”

The winner will be guaranteed of thier berth in the next Super Eights round.

India have a doubt over explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been suffering with a stomach bug.

“I hope he plays tomorrow. I hope he’s recovering well,” said Agha. “We want to play against the best, good luck to him.”

READ: Salman Agha wishes Abhishek Sharma well ahead of India-Pakistan clash

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has voiced admiration for India’s opener Abhishek Sharma ahead of their marquee showdown in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, expressing hope that the left-hander recovers in time to feature in Sunday’s contest.

Speaking on the eve of the high-voltage encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Agha made it clear that Pakistan want to test themselves against India at full strength, underlining Sharma’s growing stature in international cricket.

“Abhishek is obviously a quality player. I hope he’s recovering well and is available because we want to compete against the best team they have,” Agha said during the pre-match press conference.

The Indian opener had missed his side’s previous outing after being hospitalised with a stomach infection, though India still secured a commanding 93-run victory over Namibia.

Sharma has enjoyed notable success against Pakistan, scoring 110 runs in three matches at a striking rate of 189.65, making his availability a key talking point ahead of the clash.

Addressing another subject, Salman Ali Agha dismissed ongoing chatter around the bowling action of spinner Usman Tariq, reiterating that he has already been cleared.

“There has been talk about Usman Tariq’s action, but he has been cleared twice. I don’t know why the discussion continues. It does not affect him at all,” the skipper stated.

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The Pakistan captain also emphasised collective responsibility within the squad, highlighting the importance of flexibility and bench strength.

“We are ready to play good cricket. We understand the conditions and the pitch. All 15 players are important, and anyone can play,” he said, confirming that the final XI will be decided after assessing the surface.

Reflecting on Pakistan’s historical struggles against India in World Cups, Salman Ali Agha admitted the past has not always been favourable but stressed that the team is focused on learning and improving.

“Our record hasn’t been great, but we have learned from history and will try to play well tomorrow,” he noted.

When asked about India’s strong batting lineup and the form of Babar Azam, Agha remained calm and confident, insisting Pakistan are focused on their own execution.

“Babar is scoring runs, and it is not a concern for us. Hopefully, he continues tomorrow as well,” he said with a composed smile.

READ: Lorcan Tucker helps Ireland crush Oman at T20 World Cup 2026

COLOMBO: Stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker scored a superb unbeaten 94 as Ireland hammered Oman by 96 runs to register their first win at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday.

It propelled Ireland to the tournament’s highest score of 235-5, the second biggest total in the history of the men’s T20 World Cup.

Oman were never remotely in the chase at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) and were bundled out for 139 in 18 overs.

“The pitch was good, and we tried to capitalise by rotating the strike and putting the bad balls away,” said Tucker, who took over after Paul Stirling was ruled out on Friday with knee ligament damage.

“My role in the batting unit has changed, and I am loving the challenge,” Tucker said after posting the highest individual innings of the tournament so far.

He rescued the Irish from a precarious 64-4 after 7.3 overs with a sensational 51-ball knock that included 10 fours and four sixes.

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“We had lost too many wickets, and we tried to keep the momentum,” he said.

He just missed out on a century when he lost the strike in the final over and was a spectator as George Dockrell hit the last three balls to the fence.

Tucker put on 101 runs for the fifth wicket with Gareth Delany, who made 56 off 30 balls.

The big-hitting Dockrell finished with 35 off just nine balls.

In reply, opener Aamir Kaleem scored exactly 50 and Hammad Mirza 46, but they were the only bright spots for Oman.

READ: Rain threat looms over Pakistan-India clash in Colombo

COLOMBO: Weather conditions could significantly influence the much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with forecasts pointing to a strong possibility of rain in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.

Persistent showers and heavy humidity in the hours leading up to the match have raised concerns about interruptions at the R. Premadasa Stadium, potentially impacting both teams in what is expected to be a high-stakes encounter.

According to the latest weather update, conditions between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM (local time), just before the scheduled toss, remained challenging.

Light rain was reported at 4:00 PM with temperatures around 29°C, although the RealFeel touched 31°C, reflecting muggy and uncomfortable conditions.

Thick cloud cover of 94% hovered above the venue, while humidity stood at 70% with a dew point of 23°C, indicating a sticky atmosphere.

Winds blowing from the north-northeast at 15 km/h, with gusts up to 26 km/h, could offer early movement for seam bowlers.

Visibility was steady at 10 kilometres, though overcast skies dominated, and 0.7 mm of rainfall had already been recorded.

By 5:00 PM, the situation worsened slightly. The temperature dipped to 28°C, but humidity surged to 79%, making conditions more oppressive.

Rain intensified, with 2.5 mm recorded during the hour, while visibility dropped to 6 kilometres and the cloud ceiling lowered to 600 metres, suggesting thicker cloud concentration over the stadium.

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Winds remained consistent at 15 km/h with similar gust speeds.

Looking ahead to the match window between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM, cloudy and humid conditions are expected to persist.

Temperatures are forecast to range between 27°C and 26°C, though it may feel closer to 29°C due to humidity levels rising to around 81%.

A steady north-easterly breeze of 13 km/h, with gusts touching 28–30 km/h, could provide slight assistance to seamers under lights.

Cloud cover is predicted to remain complete, while visibility may improve slightly to around 8 kilometres.

With the dew point holding at 23°C, moisture in the air is expected to be significant, meaning dew could become a major factor later in the evening, potentially affecting bowlers’ grip and fielding efficiency.

Both teams enter the contest unbeaten in the group stage. Pakistan have secured wins over the Netherlands and the USA, while India have defeated the USA and Namibia, setting the stage for another high-pressure chapter in cricket’s most intense rivalry.

Historically, India have dominated the T20I head-to-head record, winning 13 of the 16 encounters, with Pakistan claiming three victories. In T20 World Cup meetings, India lead 6-1, with one match ending without a result.

READ: Babar Azam shares mindset ahead of Pakistan-India showdown

COLOMBO: Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has opened up about the pressure and emotions surrounding the much-anticipated clash against India, set to be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Babar reflected on the unmatched intensity that defines a Pakistan-India encounter, describing it as a contest that extends far beyond the boundary ropes.

He noted that such fixtures carry enormous global attention and heightened expectations, making mental composure a decisive factor.

“A Pakistan-India match is always high intensity. The whole world and the fans are involved, and expectations naturally rise,” Babar said, highlighting the magnitude of the occasion.

Drawing on years of experience in high-pressure contests, the 31-year-old stressed the importance of staying calm and blocking out external noise.

According to him, handling emotions wisely can be the difference between success and failure, particularly for younger players experiencing the hype of the rivalry for the first time.

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“We’ve learnt that the more we stay cool, relaxed, and don’t listen to what people say, the better it is. Youngsters often get excited, but if you remain tension-free and composed, it works in your favour,” he added.

Both sides head into the blockbuster clash unbeaten in the tournament so far.

Pakistan have secured wins over the Netherlands and the USA, while India have registered victories against the USA and Namibia, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter between the arch-rivals.

Historically, India have dominated the T20I rivalry, winning 13 of the 16 meetings between the two teams, with Pakistan claiming three victories.

In T20 World Cup history, India hold a 6-1 advantage, with one match ending in a no result.

Squads

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

READ: T20 sides ‘can’t live’ with England at their best, says Phil Salt

Phil Salt called on England to puff their chests out, stand up and keep their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 hopes alive, saying on Friday that when they bring their A-game, “sides can’t live with us”.

Harry Brook’s side fell to the West Indies in Mumbai on Wednesday and now need wins over Scotland and Italy in the next three days in Kolkata to be guaranteed to reach the Super Eights from Group C.

England played their first two matches at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and were below their exhilarating best that has seen them win 12 of their last 14 T20 internationals.

They squeezed home by just four runs against Nepal in a last-ball thriller on Sunday and then lost by 30 runs to the West Indies to end an eight-match winning streak.

“It’s just two games where I think it’s fair to say we haven’t been at our best. Not 10 or 12 games,” said Salt.

In both matches, they struggled in the middle overs, with Brook suggesting after the West Indies defeat that his side were too tentative with their batting in their 197 chase.

“The opportunities are in front of us and are there to go out and play with some personality and express yourself,” Salt told reporters at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.

“Because when we do that, sides can’t live with us. We know that much.”

The explosive Salt got England off to a roaring start with 30 off 14 balls against the West Indies before they collapsed from 74-1 to 166 all out.

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“It’s about bringing it to that night and in that moment when you’ve got a decision to make, taking the positive option with your chest out and putting a stamp on the game.”

England were stunned by Ireland in the group phase of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia before going on to lift the trophy.

“Obviously, we did that in 2022, and we’ll look to do that again here,” said England opener Salt.

The mood in the camp remained “pretty positive”, he added.

“If we can be that authentic side of ourselves, chest out, taking the game on and being smart, there’s nothing to stop us.

“If we want to go deep into this World Cup, we’re going to have to do exactly that.”

England named an unchanged side to face Scotland on Saturday.

Jofra Archer retains the new ball duties despite conceding 90 runs from his eight overs in the two matches in Mumbai.

England team to play Scotland: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (capt), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

READ: Luka Modric strikes late to earn AC Milan victory at struggling Pisa

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has praised Pakistan mystery bowler Usman Tariq, saying that the off-spinner could play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of the much-awaited India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The high-octane clash between India and Pakistan will be played on Sunday, February 15, at the RPS Stadium, Colombo.

Speaking to the media ahead of the clash, Harbhajan backed India to win but admitted that Tariq could pose a serious threat to the Indian batters.

“India will win the match. Pakistan has a spinner, he is a good spinner, we have to play him safe…,” he said.

“The Indian team is capable; it’s a very good team. We hope they play the way they have always played, play without any pressure and wave the flag of victory,” Harbhajan remarked.

Tariq has been in impressive form in the ongoing tournament, claiming five wickets in two matches so far.

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Overall, he has picked up 11 wickets in four T20Is, maintaining an outstanding average of 7.90 and an economy of 5.93.

The spinner has also caught eyebrows due to his unorthodox bowling action, which has troubled most of the batters he has bowled to.

During Australia’s recent T20I series tour of Pakistan, Australian batter Cameron Green was seen making a gesture that many interpreted as questioning Tariq’s action.

This was not the first time Tariq’s bowling has been scrutinised. Tariq was previously reported during PSL 9 and PSL 10, but his action was officially cleared on both occasions.

Addressing the scrutiny last year, Tariq explained that the natural bend in his elbows often creates confusion.

“There are two corners on my elbow that make it hard for me to straighten,” he said in an interview last year.

“I gave two tests at labs in Pakistan, and my action was cleared within a week. I didn’t get told to change anything. I was confident because I knew I was not throwing.”

READ: USA rout Netherlands to secure first win of T20 World Cup 2026

CHENNAI: Saiteja Mukkamalla’s 79 and Harmeet Singh’s four-wicket haul powered USA to a big 93-run win over the Netherlands here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the 21st fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Set a daunting 197, the Netherlands were skittled for 103 in 15.5 overs.

Michael Levitt was dismissed early in a big chase as the Netherlands were 9-1 in 1.1 overs.

After an early wicket, Max O’Dowd and Bas de Leede added 32 run partnership to put the chase back on track.

O’Dowd made 13 from 11 before getting caught, a wicket that sparked a collapse that the Netherlands could not recover from.

The Netherlands innings quickly unraveled as they slumped from 45-3 to 75-6 in 10 overs.

The wickets continued to tumbled and they were eventually bowled out before completing their overs.

Bas de Leede was the top-scorer with 23 off 17, hitting a six and four.

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For USA, it was Shadley van Schalkwyk among the wickets again as he picked up a three wicket haul. Beside him, Harmeet Singh was the other bowler who impressed with his wickets.

Earlier, asked to bat first, USA racked up 196-6 in their 20 overs.

Shayan Jahangir and skipper Monank Patel were off to a flyer with 27 on the board in 2.5 overs.

Kyle Klein provided the Dutch first breakthrough in the form of Jahangir’s wicket, who made 20 off 14, striking two sixes and a boundary.

With the Netherlands 27 for one, Saiteja Mukkamalla arrived at the crease and forged 55 run partnership with Patel to drive USA’s innings.

The pair batted briskly, bringing the team’s total to 82 in nine overs. However, the stand was eventually broken with Patel’s wicket, who made 36 from 22 balls, including a six and three fours.

After his wicket, Saiteja Mukkamalla anchored the chase. The right-hand top-scored for USA with 79 from 51 balls, striking four sixes and four boundaries.

The other notable contribution was from Shubham Ranjane, who made a quick-fire 48 off 24, including two sixes and three fours.

For the Netherlands, Bas de Leede returned with the figures of 3/37 in his four overs.

Playing XIs

Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max ODowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (w/c), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe, Kyle Klein and Fred Klaassen.

USA: Monank Patel(w/c), Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Nosthush Kenjige and Ali Khan.

READ: UAE seal comeback win over Canada in T20 World Cup clash

LAHORE: The National T20 Cup Qualifier 2025-26 is set to commence on Saturday, 14 February here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), 10 regional teams will compete for a place in the 10-team main event.

“A total of 10 regional teams have been divided into two groups of five, while the table toppers from each group will qualify for the 10-team main event scheduled in late February and March,” the press release wrote.

“The final of the tournament, between the top two teams from each group, will take place on 24 February at the Gaddafi Stadium. The 10 teams will play a total of 21 matches, including the final,” it added.

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Group A comprises Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Islamabad, Karachi Blues, Larkana, and Quetta, while Group B consists of Bahawalpur, Dera Murad Jamali, FATA, Hyderabad, and Rawalpindi. Each team will play four group matches each.

All the matches will be live-streamed on Tapmad in Pakistan and on the PCB YouTube channel outside Pakistan.

All days from 14 to 23 February will see double-headers.

The matches taking place before Ramzan are set to begin at 4pm and 8.30pm, while the matches afterwards will start at 7pm and 11.15pm.

Pool A – Karachi Blues, Quetta, Larkana, Islamabad, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Pool B – FATA, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Dera Murad Jamal,i and Bahawalpur

Squads:

Azad Jammu and Kashmir: Hasan Raza (captain), Adil Azad, Amir Nazir (wk), Aqib Liaqat, Arslan Mahzood, Awais Akram, Faizan Saleem, Hasnain Shamir, Husnain Nadeem, Jawad Imtiaz, Nadeem Khalil, Saad Asif, Umer Hayat, Usman Yousuf, and Zaman Khan

Bahawalpur: Mohammad Imran (captain), Ali Afzal, Ali Hamza, Ali Shabbir, Faizan Zafar, Khaqan Basheer, Mohammad Sudais, Muhammad Akram, Muhammad Ammar, Muhammad Azab, Muhammad Basit, Muhammad Faizan, Muhammad Junaid, Muhammad Umair, and Shahid Mirani

Dera Murad Jamali: Fahad Hussain (captain), Basit Ali, Dawood Khan, Farhan Ullah, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Shahid, Nasir Khan, Rasool Baksh, Sajjad Ahmed, Sajjad Ali, Saleem Mal, Shoaib Ahmed, Taimur Ali and Tariq Jameel

FATA: Asif Afridi (captain), Afaq Afridi, Azaz Khan, Khubaib Khalil, Khushdil Shah, Maaz Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Sarwar, Muhammad Waseem Khan, Rehan Afridi, Salman Khan, Sameen Gul, Samiullah Jnr and Sirajuddin

Hyderabad: Sharjeel Khan (captain), Akbar Khan, Asad Malik, Daniyal Rajput, Haris Khanzada, Jawad Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Meesam, Mustafa Nasir, Noman Ali, Rizwan Mehmood, Shehryar Baloch, Suleman Khan, Ubaidullah Rahupoto, and Zain-ul-Abedeen

Islamabad: Umair Riaz (captain), Arsal Sheikh, Farhan Ali, Farman Ullah, Hammad Siddique, Hamza Waheed, Haris Rauf, Kaleem Dil, Rizwan Ali, Musa Khan, Naseerullah, Shahbaz Khan, Shayan Sheikh, Umair and Umar Nawaz

Karachi Blues: Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (captain), Aarish Ali Khan, Ahsan Ali, Fahad Amin, Jahanzaib Sultan, Maaz Khurram Amin, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Raza Chandio, Muhammad Taha, Muhammad Usman Rahim, Rameez Aziz, Rehman Ghani, Syed Shah Raza, Wahaj Riaz, and Zeeshan Zameer

Larkana: Zahid Mehmood (captain), Aamir Ali Taheem, Ali Asghar, Asif Chandio, Ghulam Raza, Malhar Rasool, Mohsin Raza, Muhammad Aqeel Danish, Muhammad Huzaifa, Mushtaq Ahmed, Sabit Ali Siyal, Saqlain Nawaz Rajput, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shahzaib Aziz, and Zahid Hussain

Quetta: Jalat Khan (captain), Abdul Hameed, Abdul Hanan, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Bismillah Khan, Bohair Aman, Haseebullah, Jahangir Shah, Khalil Ahmed, Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Idrees, Muhammad Junaid, Najeed Ullah, Salahuddin, and Yasir Khan

Rawalpindi: Haider Ali (captain), Abdul Faseeh, Abdul Qadir, Ali Husnain, Jahandad Khan, Kashif Ali, M Faizan, Mehran Mumtaz, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Nabeel, Nasir Nawaz, Shahbaz Tabrez, Taimur Khan, Yasir Khan, and Zeeshan Malik

READ: UAE seal comeback win over Canada in T20 World Cup clash

Half-centuries from Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan rescued United Arab Emirates from a slippery chase to post a thrilling five-wicket over Canada in the T20 World Cup on Friday.

Chasing 151, the UAE looked in trouble at 66-4 in the 13th over.

But Sharma, who made an unbeaten 74, and Soahib (51) put on 84 to help them achieve their target with two balls to spare in New Delhi.

Sharma played the anchor while Sohaib took on the opposition attack with four fours and four sixes to deny Canada and hand UAE their first win in two matches in Group D.

Sohaib raised his fifty off 28 balls but fell in the last over to leave Muhammad Arfan to hit the winning run to trigger joyous celebrations.

Pace bowler Junaid Siddique set up the win with figures of 5-35 in his four overs to limit Canada to 150-7 and was named player of the match.

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“In the first innings, we thought they might be going for 160 or 170,” said Siddique.

“We bowled very well in the last few overs and knew that 150 was a chaseable total.”

Canada spinner Saad Bin Zafar impressed with 3-14 in his four overs to rattle the opposition top order.

But Sharma and Sohaib turned the chase on its head to make UAE jump to third in the group ahead of winless Afghanistan.

New Zealand and South Africa head the group with two wins from two.

They clash in Ahmedabad on Saturday, where the winner will be the first team assured of a place in the Super Eights.

READ: T20 World Cup: Raza reacts after thrilling win over Australia