Pakistan will face Ireland in a warm-up match ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. The game is scheduled to take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. This fixture offers Pakistan a chance to fine-tune their lineup after a strong series win over Australia.
Pakistan enters the tournament with confidence following a 3-0 clean sweep against Australia in recent T20 internationals. Key performers included batsmen Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha, while bowlers Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed impressed with their wicket-taking abilities. However, Australia fielded a weakened squad lacking some key players. Prior to that, Pakistan managed a 1-1 draw against Sri Lanka, with one match abandoned.
Ireland had a mixed lead-up to the World Cup after beating Italy in their first two T20 matches but suffered a surprising loss in their final game. Harry Tector emerged as Ireland’s top scorer with 150 runs, and Matthew Humphreys led their bowling attack with six wickets. These performances suggest Ireland will be eager to test themselves against a strong Pakistan side.
Pakistan vs Ireland Live Streaming and TV Coverage in India
In India, Star Sports holds the official broadcasting rights for the T20 World Cup 2026. However, this warm-up match between Pakistan and Ireland will not be televised on any Star Sports channel. Fans interested in watching the game live can access the stream exclusively through the JioStar app and website. This streaming arrangement ensures viewers in India can still follow the match despite the absence of television coverage.
T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-Up Match Details
Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
Match: Pakistan vs Ireland warm-up fixture
The warm-up matches are not officially recorded in ICC statistics but carry significant value for teams to finalize strategies. Pakistan will rely on captain Salman Ali Agha to lead a well-balanced squad featuring experienced players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan. Ireland will be led by Paul Stirling and will look to contributions from players like Harry Tector and Mark Adair.
Squads for the Warm-Up Match
- Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq
- Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
This warm-up game offers an opportunity to gauge the readiness of the squads ahead of the main tournament, which starts on February 9. Pakistan’s ability to maintain momentum from their recent series win will be tested against a competitive Irish team looking to upset higher-ranked opponents. Indian viewers will need to use the JioStar streaming platform to catch this promising encounter live.
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