LAHORE: India launched their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 knowing that if they reached the semi-final, they would play in Guyana and that too a day after the first semi-final. The same is the situation with Pakistan, with the only difference being that a defeat or a wash-out will all but end their journey in the first round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Salman Ali Agha’s side is in this situation after the Government of Pakistan announced their team would not play defending champions India in Colombo on 15 February. This, in turn, means Pakistan will have to win their opener against the Netherlands on Saturday, the USA on 10 February and Namibia on 18 February.

A wash-out in any of the three matches will put Pakistan’s Super Eight Stage progression in the hands of the other sides and results will have to go in their favour to avert a second successive first-round elimination.

The forecast for Saturday’s match is not encouraging, though the ICC has always tried to ensure the game is played – even if it is a reduced-overs match. Additionally, Sri Lanka boasts some of the most energetic and charged-up ground staff, but they can only work their magic if the rain is manageable.

Anyway, Pakistan can only control the controllables and a ruthless, dominant and champions-like performance in the first-round matches is within their control. It is also the need of the hour because Pakistan will want to carry forward a healthy net run rate to the Super Eight Stage so that they keep their chances alive of progressing to the semi-finals.

Pakistan have twice played the Netherlands in the 2009 and 2022 T20 World Cups, winning by 82 runs and six wickets, respectively. Pakistan have played the USA only once and the scars of that match are still fresh after the USA upset Pakistan, the 2009 champions, in a Super Over. In their only clash with Namibia in the 2021 T20 World Cup, Pakistan won by 45 runs.

Pakistan will enter the T20 World Cup with a lot of cricket and success under the belt. In 2025, Pakistan played 34 T20Is and won 21, while in 2026 they drew a three-match series with Sri Lanka (one wash-out) and swept Australia 3-0 in Lahore.

With this amount of cricket having enabled Mike Hesson to decide on the combination and Salman Ali Agha to finalise match-day strategies, there can be no excuses or explanations for failure or below-par performances.

Salman Ali Agha will be playing in his first T20 World Cup and that too as captain, and has eight players who played in the event two years ago. They are: Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Usman Khan. Apart from Salman, six players to feature in their maiden T20 World Cup are Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Tariq.

Pakistan have a strong batting line-up with Fakhar, Saim, Sahibzada, Salman, Babar, Usman and Nafay capable of destroying any bowling attack. It is their spinners who have caught the attention of cricket experts and analysts. In their view, the spin combination of Abrar, Nawaz, Shadab and Usman, along with all-rounder Faheem and fast bowlers Shaheen and Naseem, gives Pakistan a cutting advantage in Colombo conditions.

While the bowlers will be expected to keep the opponents to minimal scores, the batters will have the key responsibility of scoring big and with a healthy strike rate that can assist in net run rate.

Not an ideal platform has been set for the T20 World Cup where Pakistan practically cannot afford to lose points, but it is what it is. The team has the capacity, ability and capability. It is to be seen if they have the faith and confidence to translate this talent and experience into results.