Pakistan kicks off T20 World Cup with game against the Netherlands

Max O’Dawd of the Netherlands 

 Pakistan Captain Salman Agha

• SLC’s last ditch appeal to save India-Pakistan game falls on deaf ears

Sa’adi Thawfeeq reporting on Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan will kick off the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup when they meet associate nation the Netherlands at the SSC grounds commencing 11 a.m. today.

Pakistan are only too wary of playing such a kind of opposition as they were beaten in the Super Over by the USA in the last T20 World Cup held in the USA in 2024.  

“Sometimes you haven’t played much against this side, and you don’t really know their weakness and strength,” said Pakistan Captain Salman Agha. “To be honest, the players as well. So, it is very, very important to bring your A game into play. We as a team only think about how we can execute our plans for 40 overs. I thoroughly believe if we can do that, we are a team who can beat any side in the world.”

Although controversy surrounds Pakistan over their refusal to play arch rivals India in their group match, Salman said that they were undeterred about what was happening outside the playing area.

“When we come to a press conference, more than cricket we are being asked about other things, which I think is not a good thing, because we have come here as a sportsman and we come to talk about cricket and play cricket. So, it is better to stay to that extent only. We as a team and as an individual, try not to let these things affect us, and don’t see or think about these things much. It is better to avoid such things for yourself and for the betterment of your game.”

Pakistan comes into the T20 World Cup with a good track record leading up to the mega event.

“Our preparation, thanks to God, is very good. We have been playing cricket together for a long time and in the last six months, we have not lost a single series and have won most of the games,” said Salman. “Our preparation is very good, and it is just about how we will execute when the game starts. The way we have been executing from the last six months, if we do the same here, then I fully believe we can win this tournament.”

Although the ICC which is more or less Indian-oriented is making a hue and cry over Pakistan’s refusal to play India, India for their part have acted unsportsmanlike in the recent past against the very team they are eager to play.  

There was this widely publicized incident of the Indian captain refusing to shake hands with the Pakistani skipper during the Asia Cup in Dubai last year which Salman described as “not good for the game”, and subsequently India declining to accept the Asia Cup from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi because he was a Pakistani.

“These things obviously should not happen. Growing up as a kid, I’ve always seen people doing what is required for the game to be improved. By doing that, we, to some extent, are role models. If you don’t do that, then kids are going to pick it up and are going to do the same thing. Role models don’t do this kind of stuff.”

Do we want to see a repetition of that farce by playing the India-Pakistan match on 15 February?

Sri Lanka Cricket in a last ditch effort to save the match wrote to the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider the decision and noting a potential financial impact as the match continues to be a top draw in world cricket, but according to The Hindustan Times, the PCB acknowledged the letter and said that it cannot overturn the Government’s decision.

“It’s something we, as a group, in our circle, don’t really talk about. We don’t really see what’s happening outside in the group. I think that’s the best we can do,” said Salman. “We can avoid all this and just focus on our game. I know Sri Lanka loves us and we love them as well. They’ve always supported us and that’s what we have done as well. When we play against Sri Lanka or any side in Sri Lanka the spectators come in their numbers. There are three other games, they can come and watch. We will try to entertain them and try to win for them.”

The Netherlands opening bat Max O’Dawd playing in his fourth T20 World Cup feels strongly about beating Pakistan if they play at their best.

“A lot of guys have been putting a lot of work in to be the best they can ever be. I feel like if I look around this group, that’s where we are as players individually. I feel like we’re the best we’ve ever been going into this tournament. So obviously understanding that Pakistan’s a very strong team, we know that if we play at our best, there’s going to be opportunities where we can beat them. We understand it’s going to be difficult because Pakistan are a very good team. So, for us, it’s just to go out there, trust the work that we’ve put in, trust the training that we’ve put in, and go from there.”