ICC confirms Pakistan are ready to play T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Pakistan "ready" for T20 World Cup 2026 [Source: @ICC/x]

The Pakistan cricket team is “ready” for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, at least as per a recent social media update from the ICC. Mere days after the Pakistan government prevented the Pakistan team from facing arch-rivals India at the showpiece event, several ‘Men in Green’ players prepared a short video as part of their tournament photoshoot.

In the video, players like Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq and Sahibzada Farhan among others can be seen circling around a digitally-placed slogan, titled “Pakistan are ready”.

Pakistan is “ready” as boycott stance still stands

On Wednesday, February 4, the ICC shared a creative short video teasing the “readiness” of the Pakistan cricket team for the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In the video, several Pakistan cricketers like senior fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, young Khawaja Nafay, Faheem Ashraf as well as controversial top-order batter Sahibzada Farhan circled around the camera.

In the caption, the ICC wrote “Pakistan are ready for T20 World Cup 2026”

With Pakistan players finding time for creative photoshoots and showing off their “readiness” for the 2026 T20 World Cup, they are certainly “ready” to give up two crucial points by boycotting their Group A fixture against India.

Earlier this week, the Pakistan government confirmed Pakistan’s pull out from the match against cross-border rivals India as part of their political and cricketing protest. Last month, several reports had indicated that the Pakistan team might even pull out from the tournament overall in a bid to support the ousted Bangladesh team.

Pakistan arrives in Sri Lanka, warm-up washed away

The Pakistan cricket team arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, February 3. The following day, the ‘Men in Green’ were scheduled to face Ireland in their lone warm-up match.

However, ceaseless rains at the SSC Cricket Ground in Colombo prompted match officials to call off play without the toss.

With no other warm-up in the schedule, the Pakistan team will now head into the showpiece event for the tournament’s curtain-raiser at the same Colombo venue.

Pakistan schedule and squad for T20 World Cup 2026

The PCB confirmed a 15-player squad for the Pakistan team for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Senior pro Babar Azam and “premier fast bowler” Shaheen Afridi both made their returns to the national squad after their dismal BBL 2025-26 run in Australia. Here is a look at the entire Pakistan squad for the tournament:

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

As per the official schedule, the Pakistan team will face Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo. They will subsequently go up against the USA on February 10 at the same venue, and against Namibia to cap off their Group A stage on February 18.

Pakistan’s match against India on February 15, however, continues to be put on hold with a likely possibility of a completely boycott on part of the Pakistan government.