On the eve of the most anticipated match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with the Pakistan national team in Colombo to bolster morale. The visit, which included a ceremonial welcome featuring traditional Sri Lankan drumming and dance, comes as both India and Pakistan sit atop Group A, each having secured two wins from two matches.
A victory in today’s match at the R. Premadasa Stadium will virtually guarantee the winner a spot in the Super 8s.
The “Mystery” Factor: Usman Tariq
The talk of the tournament has been Pakistan’s off-spinner Usman Tariq. With an unconventional “statue-like” pause in his delivery stride and a biologically unique arm bend, Tariq has become Pakistan’s primary weapon.
- The Action Debate: Despite being reported during the PSL, Tariq was cleared after biomechanical testing. Captain Salman Ali Agha defended his “trump card,” stating he has met all ICC requirements.
- The “Out of Syllabus” Threat: Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged Tariq’s unique threat, famously comparing him to a “question in an exam which is out of syllabus” that the Indian team is preparing to tackle.
Colombo Weather Watch: Sunday, Feb 15
Fans are closely monitoring a volatile weather forecast as a low-pressure area develops over the Bay of Bengal.
| Timing | Forecast Detail | Probability of Rain |
| Morning/Afternoon | Heavy showers and thundershowers | ~94% |
| Toss (6:30 PM IST) | Skies expected to clear slightly | ~18% |
| Match Hours | Overcast, potential light drizzle | Decreasing to 9% |
Pro Tip: R. Premadasa is equipped with full ground covers, meaning the ground staff can typically have the outfield ready for play within 20 minutes after the rain stops.
Handshakes and Diplomacy
Beyond the cricket, there is significant interest in whether the two teams will participate in a formal handshake. Following a “snub” during the 2024–25 season due to geopolitical tensions, both captains remained playful on Saturday, with Suryakumar and Salman Ali Agha both telling media to “wait 24 hours” to see if the ice melts.
Predicted Playing XIs
- India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.
- Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed.