Tag: Pakistan

The Pakistan and India clash at the T20 World Cup is set to go ahead as per schedule following a successful dialogue with the International Cricket Council delegation, sources confirmed.

A formal request in this regard has been made to the Government of Pakistan, confirmed PCB’s spokesman Amir Mir.

The decision was made following a successful meeting in Lahore with the ICC delegation led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja on Sunday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Aminul Islam Bulbul was also present during the high-profile meeting.

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For those unaware, the development comes on the back of the much-anticipated fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, widely regarded as one of cricket’s most commercially significant contests, which remains uncertain after the Government of Pakistan directed its national team not to take the field against India in Colombo.

The match is scheduled for February 15 and carries massive implications both financially and competitively.

The 20-team tournament has already been clouded by political tensions after Bangladesh refused to play matches in India due to security concerns, leading to their replacement by Scotland.

In response, the Pakistan government barred the national side from participating in the high-profile Group A encounter against co-hosts India.

Pakistan, which opened their campaign with a victory over the Netherlands on February 7, stands to lose two vital points and suffer a significant blow to its net run rate if it forfeits the contest.

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LAHORE: The meeting between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials is currently underway here on Sunday to revive Pakistan-India clash in the T20 World Cup 2026.

According to sources privy to the matter, the outcome of the talks could prove pivotal for the tournament and the future handling of politically sensitive fixtures in international cricket.

The ICC delegation, led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja, arrived in Lahore in the evening.

According to sources, the ICC has tasked Khwaja with persuading PCB leadership to reconsider Pakistan’s stance, with the governing body keen to reach a compromise that ensures the blockbuster encounter proceeds as scheduled.

Meanwhile, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has also urged the PCB to reconsider the boycott decision ahead of the India clash, citing the game’s long-term interests.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Aminul Islam Bulbul, met with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

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During the meeting, BCB president Aminul Islam expressed gratitude for the support of Bangladesh’s stance in the World Cup row against India.

PCB CEO Salman Naseer and advisor Amir Mir were also present in the meeting.

For those unaware, the meetings come on the back of the much-anticipated fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, widely regarded as one of cricket’s most commercially significant contests, remains uncertain after the Government of Pakistan directed its national team not to take the field against India in Colombo.

The match is scheduled for February 15 and carries massive implications both financially and competitively.

The 20-team tournament has already been clouded by political tensions following Bangladesh’s refusal to play matches in India due to security concerns, a decision that led to their replacement by Scotland.

In response, the Pakistan government barred the national side from participating in the high-profile Group A encounter against co-hosts India.

Pakistan, who opened their campaign with a victory over the Netherlands on February 7, stand to lose two vital points and suffer a significant blow to their net run rate if they forfeit the contest.

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LAHORE: A high-level International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation is set to meet the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, here today to resolve the ongoing deadlock over the India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, sources revealed.

The much-anticipated fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, widely regarded as one of cricket’s most commercially significant contests, remains uncertain after the Government of Pakistan directed its national team not to take the field against India in Colombo.

The match is scheduled for February 15 and carries massive implications both financially and competitively.

The 20-team tournament has already been clouded by political tensions following Bangladesh’s refusal to play matches in India due to security concerns, a decision that led to their replacement by Scotland.

In response, the Pakistan government barred the national side from participating in the high-profile Group A encounter against co-hosts India.

Pakistan, who opened their campaign with a victory over the Netherlands on February 7, stand to lose two vital points and suffer a significant blow to their net run rate if they forfeit the contest.

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According to sources, the ICC delegation, led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja, is expected to arrive in Lahore around 4pm.

The delegation will hold discussions with PCB leadership and senior officials to explore a possible way forward.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam is also likely to join the meeting, reflecting the broader regional dimensions of the issue.

Sources further indicated that the ICC has tasked Khwaja with convincing PCB leadership to reconsider Pakistan’s stance, with the governing body keen to find a compromise that ensures the blockbuster encounter proceeds as scheduled.

The outcome of the talks could prove pivotal for the tournament and the future handling of politically sensitive fixtures in international cricket.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has categorically rejected claims made by Indian media that it wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) refusing to play the T20 World Cup group stage match against India on February 15.

PCB spokesman Amir Mir, clarifying the matter, stated that the board has not made any such contact with the ICC.

“We reject the false claims made by Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta,” Mir said.

He further accused the Indian media of spreading misinformation, adding, “Have patience; it will soon be revealed who actually contacted whom.”

“As usual, sections of Indian media are busy circulating fiction. A little patience and time will clearly show who actually went knocking and who didn’t,” he added.

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The development follows senior Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta’s claim that the PCB had reached out to the ICC to initiate dialogue over the World Cup stalemate.

“PCB has now reached out to ICC for a dialogue on the India-Pakistan World Cup after the ICC replied to their official communication: PCB first wrote to ICC saying they were pulling out of that game implying the ‘Force Majeure’, attaching their Govt’s tweet,” Gupta post read on X.

“The ICC then wrote back, asking what factors under ‘Force Majeure’ were they trying to imply, and telling PCB of legal ramifications and sanctions the ICC could hit them with,” it added.

“The PCB has now approached ICC for a dialogue to ‘resolve’ the issue.”

A week earlier, a post issued by the Government of Pakistan’s official X account said the government had granted permission to the Pakistan team to travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament, but instructed that “the Pakistan cricket team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15 February 2026 against India”.

The statement did not specify a reason for that decision.

“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India,” the statement read.

It is understood that the PCB is yet to write to the ICC to inform them of the boycott.

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COLOMBO: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first in the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against the Netherlands here on Saturday at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed.

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

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HEAD TO HEAD

Historically, Pakistan and the Netherlands have faced each other twice, with the Men in Green winning both encounters, while the Flying Dutchmen are yet to register a victory.

Matches: 2, Pakistan: 2, Netherlands: 0

The last time both teams faced each other was in the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup, where Pakistan defeated the Netherlands by six wickets in Perth.

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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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