COLUMBO: The Pakistan team lands in Sri Lanka for T20 World Cup after the national squad arrived on Monday ahead of the tournament starting on February 7. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the 15-player contingent has reached Sri Lanka and will rest on Monday and Tuesday before preparations continue.
Squad Details and Schedule
The PCB said the 15-player national squad includes Captain Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Naeef, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq. The team will play a warm-up match against Ireland on February 4.
Rest and Preparation
The squad has been given two days of rest before training resumes and the warm-up fixture, allowing players to acclimatise and finalise match plans.
Political Context and Boycott Decision
On Sunday, the government approved Pakistan’s participation in the tournament but barred the team from playing India on February 15. The decision followed Bangladesh’s withdrawal and came amid tensions with India.
Reason Cited by Officials
A government source told local media that Pakistan refused to face India in solidarity with Bangladesh, citing what officials described as the ICC’s “biased decision” toward Bangladesh as the main reason for the boycott.
Tournament Outlook
With the squad in Sri Lanka and a warm-up match scheduled, Pakistan’s focus will be on match readiness and team balance. Political developments add an extra layer of attention to the team’s fixtures and fan expectations.