LAHORE: The Pakistan national cricket team on Monday left for Sri Lanka, one of the co-hosts of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held from February 7 to March 8.
The 15-member squad is led by captain Salman Ali Agha and includes star players Babar Azam, Abrar Ahmed, Faqar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Muhammad Nafe, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saeem Khandi, Saeem Khandi and Saeem Khandi. Usman Tariq.
Upon arrival in Sri Lanka, the team will rest today and tomorrow before taking on Ireland on February 4 at the Sinhala Sports Club ground in Colombo.
The stadium will also host Pakistan’s group-stage matches against the Netherlands on February 7 and the USA on February 10.
Under the ICC’s ‘Fusion Formula’, Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka. The arrangement is designed to avoid Pakistan and India touring each other during ICC events, instead both teams compete at neutral venues.
If Pakistan advance to the semi-finals and final, the knockout matches will be held in Colombo; Otherwise, the semi-final and final will be held in Kolkata and Ahmedabad respectively.
The 2009 champions will open their campaign in Colombo on February 7 against the Netherlands, followed by matches against USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.
On Sunday, the Pakistan government confirmed that the national men’s team will participate in the 2026 T20 World Cup, but will not play in their group-stage match against arch-rivals India scheduled for February 15.
The decision is seen as a move to apply financial pressure on the International Cricket Council (ICC), which Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi last week criticized for “double standards” and acting under the influence of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The announcement comes after a crucial meeting between Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Naqvi.
The PCB chief met the Prime Minister last month to discuss Pakistan’s participation in the mega event and said the final decision would be announced between January 30 and February 2.
Pakistan reconsidered its participation in the 20-team tournament after the ICC refused to tour India with Scotland instead of Bangladesh.
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