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COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced free entry for spectators to watch the curtain raiser clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup between Pakistan and the Netherlands, set to take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground on Saturday.

According to SLC, cricket fans will be allowed to watch the event’s opening game free of charge.

“The inaugural match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be played tomorrow at the SSC Grounds, Colombo, will be open to the public free of charge,” the SLC said in a statement.

 

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“Accordingly, Gates No. 5 and 7 of the SSC Grounds will be opened to the public from 9:30 a.m. The opening match will be contested between Pakistan and the Netherlands, with play scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m,” the statement added.

For those unaware, weather conditions could disrupt the opening day, with forecasts indicating a mixed outlook: cloudy skies throughout and the possibility of rain increasing 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 is projected to remain 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.

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 and 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 and Saqib Zulfiqar.

READ: All you need to know about ICC T20 World Cup 2026

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to commence tomorrow across Sri Lanka and India, as 20 teams vie for the coveted trophy.

Spanning one month across eight venues, the competition will feature 20 teams from around the globe.

The final of the mega-event will be held in Ahmedabad, India, if Pakistan does not qualify. If Pakistan qualifies, the summit clash will be held in Colombo under the hybrid model.

The hosts, India, are the defending champions, having lifted the trophy in 2024 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.

Tournament Format Explained

The 20 teams are divided into four groups of five, with each team playing four matches. From each group, the top two teams progress to the Super Eight stage.

Overall, 55 matches will be played in the mega event, including the semi-final and final.

Groups 

Group A: India, Pakistan, United States, Netherlands, Namibia

Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman

Group C: England, West Indies, Scotland, Nepal, Italy

Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, United Arab Emirates

Venues and Conditions

The tournament will be played across eight venues in Sri Lanka and India.

Sri Lanka’s three venues — Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, and Kandy. Whereas in India, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai will host the action.

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The semi-finals of the mega event will be played on 4 and 5 March.

Super Overs and Knockout matches

Pakistan’s Fixtures

Pakistan begins their campaign with the tournament opener against the Netherlands in Colombo

They then face USA on February 10 before wrapping up the group stage against Namibia on February 18.

The Green Shirts were scheduled to play India on 15 February. However, following the Pakistan government’s decision not to take the field against them, Pakistan will not play arch-rivals.

READ: India crush England to lift U19 World Cup for record sixth time

HARARE: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s imperious knock, backed by a disciplined bowling effort, powered India to a 100-run victory over England in the U19 World Cup final here at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Set a daunting target of 412, England were bowled out for 311 in 40.2 overs.

With this, India is now cut above the rest of the teams at the junior level, winning the trophy for the record sixth time.

Notably, the final against India was India’s 11th appearance in the summit clash of the U19 World Cup.

England were jolted early in a steep chase, with India bowlers removing the opener Joseph Moores for 17 in the fifth over.

After an early blow, Ben Mayes and Ben Dawkins added a 74-run stand for the second wicket to put the chase back on track.

The pair brought the team’s total to 93 at the end of the 13 overs. However, Indian bowlers struck back, sending back set batter Mayes. He made 45 from 28 with the help of two sixes and seven fours.

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Despite the wicket, England progressed with another partnership between Thomas Rew and Ben Dawkins.

The stand eventually culminated in the 18th over in the form of Dawkins wicket, who made 66 from 56, striking seven fours and two sixes.

After the wicket, India got a foothold on the match and never allowed England to make a comeback in the final. Consequently, the English side slumped to 177-7 from 142-3 in 22 overs.

With the required run rate rising, England were too much behind the game despite a valiant stand between Calob Falconer and James Minto.

The pair added 92 and demonstrated a fight-back, but the target proved too much for them. Falconer played an eye-catching knock, scoring a sublime innings.

The all-rounder hit seven sixes and nine fours in his 115 from 67 balls before getting caught in the 40th over.

For India, RS Ambrish was the top-wicket taker, picking up three wickets. Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chouhan took a brace.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, India racked up 411-9 in their 50 overs, thanks to  Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 175 from just 80 balls.

After losing Aaron George for nine in the third over, Sooryavanshi was joined by skipper Ayush Mhatre, adding up a 142-run stand for the second wicket partnership.

The pair took the team’s India total to 162 from 20 in 19 overs. Ayush Mhatre departed after scoring 53 off 51 with the help of seven fours and two sixes.

Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi carried on and hit towering sixes to complete his record-shattering century.

He was involved in a partnership for a quick-fire 89 run stand off just 39, powering his side into a dominant position.

The left-hander’s innings finally ended when India were 261 in 25.3 overs. He made 175 from 80 balls, pepped with 15 sixes and 1`5 fours.

India eventually ended their innings on a massive score with some other notable contributions from the middle-order batter, notably Kanishk Chouhan, who struck  three fours and a six on his way to 37 from 20 balls.

For England, James Minto remained the stand out bowler with threee wickets to his name.

READ: Sooryavanshi breaks Babar’s record with 175 against England

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) new franchise Sialkot Stallionz has revealed their four signed players including all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, ahead of the league’s historic auction, scheduled for February 11.

The new outfit Stallionz has selected four players — Mohammad Nawaz (Platinum), Salman Mirza (Diamond), Ahmed Daniyal (Gold), and Saad Masood (Emerging).

The announcement was made via Stallionz’s social media handles.

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. Welcome Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood to the Stallionz,” the caption of the post read.

Nawaz was signed in the Platinum category for a salary of PKR 61.6 million, while Salman, who was picked in the Diamond category, secured a deal worth PKR 39.2 million.

Daniyal was acquired in the Gold category for PKR 22.4 million, whereas Saad, selected from the Emerging category, will earn PKR 8.4 million.

For the forthcoming auction, franchises have been allocated a total purse of PKR 450 million. Stallionz have already spent PKR 131.6 million on their retained players.

Earlier, the outfit also roped in Australian ace batter Steve Smith as a direct signing for PSL 11. Notably, Smith has never appeared in the PSL.

Besides, Smith Stallionz had earlier appointed former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine as their head coach.

Paine, who hung up his boots from professional cricket in March 2023, represented Australia in 35 Tests, the same number of ODIs, and 12 T20Is.

Among his 35 Tests, 23 of them came as captain after taking the reins of the team following the Sandpaper Gate.

The development came just weeks after Sialkot Stallionz were officially introduced as one of the two new franchises in the PSL.

The team’s ownership rights were acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers sealed the deal with a record bid of Rs 1.85 billion, making it the most expensive franchise purchase in PSL history.

The eighth team, PSL 11, is set to start on March 26 across five venues in the country.

READ: Sooryavanshi breaks Babar’s record with 175 against England

HARARE: India opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi surpassed Pakistan batter Babar Azam’s record with a scintillating 175 off 80 balls in the U19 World Cup final against England here at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.

The left-handed batter was instrumental in India’s 411-run total against England in 50 overs. He shattered numerous U19 records with his imperious knocks, which included 15 fours and 15 sixes.

Vaibhav, 14 years and 316 days old, became the youngest player to score a U19 World Cup century, shattering Babar Azam’s record set against West Indies in 2010.

Babar was 15 years and 92 days old when he notched up a century.

Besides Babar’s record, Sooryavanshi also broke several other notable records, showcasing his batting prowess.

The 175-run masterpiece is now the highest score by any batter in an ICC tournament final, either at the U19 or senior level.

It is also the highest individual score in a final or even any knockout game in Youth ODIs, surpassing the previous record of 172 by Sameer Minhas in an Asia Cup final.

The southpaw also overtakes Raj Bawa’s 162 not out to become India’s highest scorer in Under-19 World Cups.

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Additionally, this innings ranks as the second-highest score for India in Youth ODIs, only behind Ambati Rayudu’s 177 not out against England in 2002.

His 15 sixes are the most ever in a Youth ODI innings, breaking his own previous record of 14 sixes against the UAE in December.

Remarkably, Sooryavanshi has now hit ten or more sixes on five separate occasions in Youth ODIs, while all other batters combined have done it only three times.

His 150 runs purely came from boundaries, another record, surpassing Hasitha Boyagoda’s 124-run record in a Youth ODI innings.

Sooryavanshi’s total of 30 boundaries matches the joint-most in a Youth ODI innings, equalling Boyagoda’s 28 fours and two sixes.

The innings also showcased blistering speed, with 150 runs coming off just 71 balls, setting the record for the fastest individual 150 in Youth ODIs.

His 55-ball century is the second-fastest in U-19 World Cup history, behind Will Malajczuk’s 51-ball ton, and marks the fifth-fastest hundred in Youth ODIs overall.

READ: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shatters multiple records with 175 in U19 World Cup final

HARARE: India’s batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a sensational innings of 175 to dominate the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 final against England at Harare Sports Club on Friday, smashing multiple records in the process.

Opening alongside Aaron George (9), Sooryavanshi unleashed a whirlwind 80-ball knock that featured 15 sixes and 15 fours, putting India in complete control and helping them cross the 250-run mark in just 25 overs before falling to Manny Lumsden.

The 175-run masterpiece has set new benchmarks across Youth ODI cricket. It is now the highest score by any batter in an ICC tournament final, either at the U19 or senior level.

It is also the highest individual score in a final or even any knockout game in Youth ODIs, surpassing the previous record of 172 by Sameer Minhas in an Asia Cup final.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also overtakes Raj Bawa’s 162 not out to become India’s highest scorer in Under-19 World Cups.

This innings ranks as the second-highest score for India in Youth ODIs, only behind Ambati Rayudu’s 177 not out against England in 2002.

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His 15 sixes are the most ever in a Youth ODI innings, breaking his own previous record of 14 sixes against the UAE in December.

Remarkably, Sooryavanshi has now hit ten or more sixes on five separate occasions in Youth ODIs, while all other batters combined have done it only three times.

He scored 150 runs purely from boundaries, another record, surpassing Hasitha Boyagoda’s 124-run record in a Youth ODI innings.

Sooryavanshi’s total of 30 boundaries matches the joint-most in a Youth ODI innings, equalling Boyagoda’s 28 fours and two sixes.

The innings also showcased blistering speed, with 150 runs coming off just 71 balls, setting the record for the fastest individual 150 in Youth ODIs.

His 55-ball century is the second-fastest in U-19 World Cup history, behind Will Malajczuk’s 51-ball ton, and marks the fifth-fastest hundred in Youth ODIs overall.

READ: ‘Babar, Fakhar can be dropped,’ Agha insists on merit-based selection

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, on Friday, emphasised that team selection will be determined strictly by merit, with no senior player, including Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, guaranteed a spot in the Playing XI.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Pakistan’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against the Netherlands, Agha emphasised that the team’s priority is to field the combination best suited to winning.

“We have arrived as a 15-member squad, and we will try to play the combination that is best for the team. Even if a senior player, whether Fakhar or Babar, does not fit into the combination, we will not play them,” he said.

“Fakhar and Babar have given great performances for Pakistan for years. I fully support them, but we will make the Playing XI only based on what is good for the team.”

Agha also expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and mindset, insisting there is no pressure ahead of the opening games.

“Our preparation has been very good. We will try to win every match and believe we can lift the World Cup,” he added.

The captain also voiced frustration over off-field topics dominating press conferences, calling for discussions to remain focused on cricket.

“Lately, there have been too many questions that are not about cricket. We are here as sportsmen and want to talk only about the game. We try to keep our focus on cricket and not let outside factors affect us,” he said.

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Salman Ali Agha acknowledged that the weather could be a factor in Sri Lanka, but insisted it was beyond the team’s control.

“You cannot fight the weather or rain; it is not in our control. What is in our control is our performance, and we will try to deliver in all matches. Our focus is on winning our games,” he said.

He also backed spinner Usman Tariq, whose bowling action has come under scrutiny, calling him an X-factor for Pakistan.

“I don’t understand why there is so much talk about his action. His action has already been cleared twice. Usman Tariq is an X-factor for us, and we will use him whenever we feel we need him,” Agha said.

The captain confirmed he will continue to bat at number three.

“I am performing well at number three, so I will continue to bat there. There is no need to change it,” he said.

On the strategy against the Netherlands, the Pakistan captain highlighted the importance of executing plans against teams Pakistan does not face regularly.

“We do not play against teams like the Netherlands very often, so we must remain careful. We have played good cricket over the past six months, and now it is about executing our plans,” he concluded.

READ: Colombo weather update ahead of Pakistan vs Netherlands

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