One Last Test Before the Big Battle Begins!
Ireland and Pakistan are ready to lock horns in the
9th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Warm-up Matches 2026 today at the historic
Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo. This encounter is a crucial dress rehearsal as both teams sharpen their combinations ahead of the main World Cup event.
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Match Details
The warm-up match will begin at
5:00 PM IST (11:30 AM GMT) on
February 4, 2026. Colombo weather is expected to be warm and humid, with a balanced pitch likely to assist both batters and bowlers—ideal conditions for a competitive T20 contest.
Predicted Playing XI
Ireland (Probable XI): Paul Stirling (c), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little.
Pakistan (Probable XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
Context & Importance
This warm-up game offers both teams a chance to experiment and settle combinations before the T20 World Cup. Pakistan will look to build momentum after mixed recent performances, while Ireland aims to continue its reputation as a dangerous giant-killer.
Key battles to watch include
Shaheen Afridi vs Paul Stirling with the new ball and Ireland’s spin options testing Pakistan’s star-studded middle order.
Recent Head-to-Head
Pakistan leads the T20I head-to-head record
6-2, but Ireland has delivered some memorable upsets, including a famous win in 2024. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan narrowly chased down 112 to win by three wickets.
Where to Follow Live Updates
Fans can track live toss updates, scores, and highlights once the match begins on platforms like
Cricbuzz and
ESPNcricinfo.
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