Category: Cricket

COLOMBO: Pakistan to kick off their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against the Netherlands on Saturday at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, but weather conditions could have a decisive say in the much-anticipated opener.

Forecasts suggest a mixed outlook for match day, with cloudy skies dominating throughout and the possibility of rain increasing significantly as the day progresses.

Morning conditions are expected to remain relatively stable despite heavy cloud cover of around 88 percent.

Temperatures will hover near 31°C, with a RealFeel of approximately 36°C, while humidity levels are projected to stay high at 77 percent.

Winds from the southeast are likely to blow at around 11 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 32 km/h.

Although the skies will remain overcast, no rainfall is predicted during the early hours.

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However, the situation is expected to shift by evening, raising concerns over potential interruptions.

Cloudy conditions and scattered showers are forecast later in the day, with the probability of precipitation rising sharply to 83 percent and expected rainfall of about 4.2 mm.

Temperatures will remain around 32°C, but the RealFeel could climb to 37°C amid persistent humidity.

Winds are predicted to change direction to north-northwest at 17 km/h, with stronger gusts up to 43 km/h, while visibility may drop to nearly 4 kilometres.

Weather already disrupted Pakistan’s only warm-up match against Ireland earlier in the week, which was abandoned before the toss, making conditions a key factor once again as the Men in Green prepare for their tournament opener.

The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground will also stage Pakistan’s remaining group fixtures against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.

Squads

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.

Netherlands: Scott Edwards (c), Colin Ackermann, Noah Croes, Bas de Leede, Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen, Kyle Klein, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Max O’Dowd, Logan van Beek, Timm van der Gugten, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren, Saqib Zulfiqar.

READ: ICC reveals star-studded commentary panel for T20 World Cup 2026

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced a high-profile commentary panel for the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka.

The panel features a blend of legendary commentators and former T20 World Cup champions, ensuring global expertise and diverse perspectives throughout the tournament.

Renowned broadcasters Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith, Ramiz Raja and Ian Bishop headline the commentary team, forming the core of the tournament’s coverage.

They will be joined by several former T20 World Cup winners, including Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Kumar Sangakkara, Samuel Badree, Robin Uthappa and Carlos Brathwaite, adding first-hand tournament experience and tactical insight to the broadcast.

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In a notable addition, current South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, fresh off leading his side to the ICC World Test Championship title, will make a special appearance during the tournament.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s 2014 T20 World Cup-winning skipper Angelo Mathews is also set to feature as part of the expert group.

The full commentary panel reflects a strong international presence and includes Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith, Ian Bishop, Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Kumar Sangakkara, Samuel Badree, Robin Uthappa, Carlos Brathwaite, Eoin Morgan, Wasim Akram, Sunil Gavaskar, Matthew Hayden, Ramiz Raja, Dale Steyn, Michael Atherton, Waqar Younis, Simon Doull, Shaun Pollock, Katey Martin, Harsha Bhogle, Mpumelelo Mbangwa and Natalie Germanos.

Further strengthening the broadcast team are Danny Morrison, Alan Wilkins, Ian Ward, Mark Howard, Nick Knight, Athar Ali Khan, Kass Naidoo, Bazid Khan, Raunak Kapoor, Niall O’Brien, Preston Mommsen, Andrew Leonard, Russel Arnold, Roshan Abeysinghe, Angelo Mathews and Temba Bavuma.

READ: Sri Lanka request Pakistan to reconsider India match boycott

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has formally requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to revisit its decision to boycott the high-profile ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against India.

According to international reports, the Sri Lankan board has written to the PCB expressing serious concern over the potential fallout of Pakistan’s non-participation in the marquee fixture, scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The contest, widely regarded as one of the biggest attractions of the tournament, is expected to generate significant revenue and global attention.

In its communication, SLC warned that the abandonment of the Pakistan-India encounter would expose Sri Lanka to substantial financial losses, particularly due to reduced commercial returns and a possible drop in tourism inflows linked to the blockbuster match.

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“Any non-participation will have wide-ranging implications, including substantial financial exposure for SLC and the potential loss of anticipated tourism inflows,” the Sri Lankan board stated in its letter.

SLC also urged the PCB to consider the broader relationship between the two cricket boards and the larger interests of the game.

Emphasising long-standing ties, the Sri Lankan board called for a measured approach amid the sensitive circumstances surrounding the issue.

The situation follows the Government of Pakistan’s reported decision to bar its national men’s team from taking the field against arch-rivals India.

READ: Australia suffer setback as Josh Hazlewood ruled out of T20 World Cup

Australia’s preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 have suffered a significant blow, with experienced fast bowler Josh Hazlewood officially ruled out of the tournament just days before their campaign begins.

The development comes only five days ahead of Australia’s opening fixture against Ireland, further complicating the team’s build-up to the global event.

Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed Hazlewood’s withdrawal, stating that a final decision regarding his replacement will be announced in due course.

His absence adds to Australia’s growing injury concerns, particularly after Pat Cummins was also sidelined earlier, leaving a noticeable gap in the team’s pace attack.

Hazlewood’s unavailability is a major setback considering the form he carried into 2026.

The right-arm pacer enjoyed an impressive 2025 season, playing a pivotal role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Indian Premier League (IPL) title-winning campaign and delivering strong performances in the T20I series against South Africa, New Zealand and India.

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Over the year, he picked up 12 wickets at an average of 16.58, maintaining an economy rate of 7.37, while proving especially effective in the powerplay with eight wickets at an economy of 6.72.

Among his standout performances were match-defining spells of 3 for 27 against South Africa in Darwin and 3 for 13 against India in Melbourne, underlining his value in high-pressure situations.

However, injuries have plagued Hazlewood’s recent months. He initially sustained a hamstring strain during the final Sheffield Shield match leading up to the Ashes and later encountered Achilles tendon issues during his recovery.

Despite aiming to regain full fitness in time for the T20 World Cup, Cricket Australia revealed that the latest medical evaluations indicated he was still not ready for competitive cricket.

READ: Harry Brook predicts record 300-plus scores at T20 World Cup

England captain Harry Brook said on Thursday that he believes it could be a record-breaking T20 World Cup, with fans treated to a batting blitz and 300-plus scores in the 2026 edition.

Sri Lanka’s 260-6 in 2007 remains the highest total in the nine previous editions of the men’s tournament.

The T20 World Cup 2026 begins Saturday, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and England will play all their Group C matches at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, both renowned as high-scoring venues.

“There are plenty of grounds in India where there could be a score of 300-plus,” Brook told reporters on the captain’s media day in Mumbai, when asked if he thought such lofty totals were possible.

“The wickets are quite good, with rapid outfields and fairly short boundaries.

“So, yeah, you’ve just got to go out there, be fearless, not worry about getting out and keep on trying to attack the ball.”

England come into the World Cup heartened by a 3-0 T20 series win in Sri Lanka this week.

In the preceding ODI series against the same opposition, the explosive Brook bludgeoned 136 off just 66 balls.

His team are expected to make the Super Eights from a Group C that also features two-time winners West Indies, debutants Italy, Nepal and Scotland.

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Brook would not be drawn when asked whether the 2010 and 2022 champions England, were among the favourites for the title ahead of their opening match, against Nepal at the Wankhede stadium on Sunday.

“We’ll take it game by game and see where we land in a couple of weeks,” said Brook, who has been under intense scrutiny after an incident with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand last year.

“We are confident, we want to go all the way in the tournament,” added Brook, who is in charge at a global tournament for the first time since he replaced Jos Buttler as white-ball captain last year.

He did admit that he might try “to lose” a few tosses, as it could be a gamble in India and Sri Lanka as to whether batting first or bowling first would give the best advantage.

“Obviously, dew might play a factor in some different grounds,” said Brook.

“You’ve just got to try and assess the pitch, when you get there.

“Me and Baz (coach Brendon McCullum), we’ll be having chats here and there about it. We usually end up deciding that we don’t have a clue.

“So we’ll be trying to lose the odd toss, but no, you’ve got to try and factor in the dew, the opposition and what you think the pitch might do.”

READ: Former India spinner sees Pakistan as dark horses for T20 World Cup

Former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Pakistan have a genuine chance to make a strong impact at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, set to be played across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

Speaking during a recent squad analysis on his YouTube channel, Ashwin put cricketing logic above rivalry and openly backed Pakistan’s chances, stating that the team possesses the right balance to challenge the top sides in the tournament.

“Some people might not like this, but I’m going to talk about cricket. I feel that Pakistan has a really, really good shot in this World Cup,” Ashwin said.

The former Indian spinner highlighted Pakistan’s top-order combination as their biggest strength, particularly the expected opening partnership of Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub.

He praised Ayub’s aggressive powerplay batting and also pointed to Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ability to control the early overs with the ball.

“Their biggest strength is their opening pair. Babar Azam is not opening; it will be Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub,” he said.

“Saim Ayub has been impressive in the powerplay with the bat, and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s economy rate in the powerplay is excellent at 6.5.

“Abrar Ahmed and Nawaz are also strong, Nawaz with his control and Abrar with his novelty factor.”

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However, Ashwin also identified a few areas of concern in Pakistan’s setup.

He noted that Babar Azam’s role in the middle order could be a challenge, while the death bowling of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah may need improvement.

He also pointed to Shadab Khan’s dip in all-round form, though he acknowledged the promise of emerging players within the squad.

“Their weakness is Babar Azam coming in at the middle order, and the death bowling from Naseem Shah and Shaheen isn’t very sharp,” Ashwin stated.

“Shadab’s batting and bowling form has dipped, while Usman Tariq brings a novelty factor with a 5.63 economy rate. Khawaja Nafay is striking at 174.”

Despite the concerns, Ashwin stressed that Pakistan remain a well-rounded side capable of competing with the best, especially with underrated contributors in the lineup.

“Overall, Pakistan has strengths and weaknesses, but they do have Salman Ali Agha, who often doesn’t get mentioned,” he concluded.

READ: Pakistan to seek government permission for potential India knockout clash

COLOMBO: Pakistan men’s cricket team will seek advice from their government if they meet arch-rivals India in the knockout phase of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, captain Salman Ali Agha said on Thursday.

The tournament has been marred by an acrimonious political build‑up after Bangladesh were kicked out and Pakistan refused to face co-hosts India in their Group A match.

However, a semi-final or final showdown between the uneasy South Asian neighbours is still a possibility.

“The India game is not in our control. It was the government’s decision, and if we have to play them in the semi-final or the final, we will go back to them and act on their advice,” Agha told reporters in Colombo.

Bangladesh refused to play in India, citing security concerns, as relations soured and were kicked out of Group C by the International Cricket Council (ICC), to be replaced by Scotland.

Pakistan backed Bangladesh’s plea to have their games moved to Sri Lanka.

The government in Islamabad cleared the national team to take part but ordered them not to play in the marquee group match against India on February 15.

“It’s sad Bangladesh are not here. They have a very good side. Hopefully, they will support us,” Agha said.

Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in multinational events.

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They will face Namibia, the Netherlands and the United States of America (USA) in the group stage.

“We’re excited to play in this tournament. We lost to the USA in the last World Cup, and we are determined to put that disappointment behind us and put a few things right,” Agha said.

Pakistan will not only lose two points for forfeiting their India match but will also take a big hit to their net run rate.

Even losing one of their group games to bad weather could make it difficult for Pakistan to qualify.

“We know the margin for error is small, but we can’t control the weather. We are here to play good cricket, and we’re not bothered about the conditions,” Agha said.

Pakistan, the 2009 champions, arrive after a 3-0 whitewash of Australia at home.

“We’ve been playing really good cricket. We haven’t lost a series since the Asia Cup last year. Everything is coming along nicely, and we’re confident of doing well,” Agha said.

All of Pakistan’s games will be played in Sri Lanka, where they toured in January.

“Very happy to play in Sri Lanka, it’s a second home for me. This is my sixth visit, we know the conditions, and we get a lot of support,” Agha said.

READ: Nasser Hussain slams ICC, backs Pakistan, Bangladesh in T20 World Cup dispute

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has strongly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the T20 World Cup 2026, backing Pakistan and Bangladesh in their stand against what he described as inconsistent and biased decision-making by the global governing body.

The debate intensified after the Pakistan government announced on February 1 that the national team would boycott their group-stage clash against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the move a protest against the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after they refused to play in India over security concerns.

Bangladesh were subsequently replaced by Scotland, a decision that sparked criticism from several quarters of the cricketing world.

Hussain, speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, questioned the ICC’s consistency and suggested that the governing body has shown preferential treatment towards India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“There has always been a link between sports and politics, but what used to be an exception now feels like the norm,” Hussain said.

“It’s very depressing, not shaking hands, not lifting trophies. Cricket used to unite countries; now it’s pushing people apart.”

He raised concerns over whether the ICC would apply the same strict stance if India were to make a similar request regarding venues in future tournaments.

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“If India, a month before a World Cup, said their government didn’t want them to play in a particular country, would the ICC really be so firm and say, ‘You know the rules, bad luck, you’re out’?” Hussain questioned.

The former skipper emphasised that consistency should be the guiding principle in dealing with politically influenced decisions by member boards.

“All sides ask for is consistency. You have to treat Bangladesh the same as Pakistan, and Pakistan the same as India,” he said.

Nasser Hussain also warned that repeatedly sidelining Pakistan and Bangladesh could have damaging consequences for the sport in those nations, ultimately affecting the competitiveness of major cricketing rivalries.

“With power comes responsibility. If you keep knocking Pakistan and Bangladesh into a corner, their cricket diminishes, and the great contests we’ve seen over the years risk becoming one-sided,” he added.

The 57-year-old further pointed to the growing influence of politics in franchise cricket, questioning whether teams with Indian ownership are willing to sign Pakistani or Bangladeshi players, while praising the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for ensuring inclusivity in The Hundred.

Highlighting the broader impact on the sport, Hussain applauded Bangladesh for standing by Mustafizur Rahman and Pakistan for showing solidarity, urging cricket’s powerbrokers to prioritise the game over politics.

“The game is shooting itself in the foot. At some point, someone had to say enough with the politics, can we just get back to playing cricket?” he concluded.

READ: Lahore Qalandars announce Mustafizur Rahman as direct signing for PSL 11

LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have roped in Bangladesh pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman as a direct signing for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

The Bangladeshi star bowler, who was previously picked by the Qalandars in 2016 and 2018, is now set to return to the franchise for the 2026 edition, after he was signed for PKR 6.44 crore.

“Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar. Mustafizur is not just a player; he’s a brother, a key part of our family who never left,” said Sameen Rana, Owner, Lahore Qalandars.

“We are thrilled to welcome him back to our dressing room. His talent, experience, and dedication will be invaluable as we aim to defend our title and make a statement in PSL 11.”

Mustafizur Rahman has represented Bangladesh in 15 Tests, 116 ODIs and 126 T20Is, taking 366 wickets across all formats.

Moreover, the 30-year-old pacer has played franchise cricket across the globe, taking 412 wickets in 322 matches at an average of 21.03.

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Earlier, Lahore Qalandars had retained captain Shaheen Afridi, key batter Abdullah Shafique, dynamic all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and skilled youngster Mohammad Naeem.

Notably, Mustafizur’s signing comes in the backdrop of a turbulent few weeks for the bowler, who was released by Kolkata Knight Riders last month.

The decision was reportedly taken at the direction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), sparking controversy in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) responded strongly to the development, and the matter escalated to the point that the national cricket team opted not to travel to India for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Subsequently, Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the mega-event after multiple meetings between BCB and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Adding to the strained situation, Bangladesh’s government also announced a ban on the broadcast and coverage of the IPL within the country.

READ: Pakistan PM Shehbaz reaffirms decision to boycott India clash

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s decision to boycott the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixture against India, scheduled to be played on February 15, insisting that politics must not interfere in sports.

While addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the premier backed the government’s stance of preventing the national team from taking the field against their arch-rivals, describing the move as a “carefully deliberated and appropriate decision” in response to what he termed the growing politicisation of cricket.

“We have taken a clear stand regarding the T20 World Cup that we will not play the match against India,” Sharif said, stressing that sports should remain free from political influence.

He added that the decision was made after thorough consultation at the highest level.

The prime minister also expressed support for Bangladesh in the ongoing controversy surrounding the tournament.

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Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup after requesting their matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns.

According to government sources, the development played a key role in Islamabad reassessing its participation in the 20-team global event.

Officials in Pakistan have perceived the ICC’s handling of the Bangladesh situation as biased, further straining confidence in the governing body.

The controversy intensified after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, reportedly following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The move, coupled with the ICC’s subsequent decision regarding Bangladesh’s participation, was viewed by Pakistani authorities as politically influenced.

READ: Karachi Kings announce Moeen Ali as direct signing for PSL 11