:
India’s cricket camp says it is preparing for a “daunting challenge” as it gears up to face Pakistan national cricket team in a marquee ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, according to team officials and local media.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said India was pleased the highly anticipated fixture will proceed as planned after an earlier standoff over Pakistan’s boycott decision was resolved. He described Pakistan as a “quality side” and warned that travelling to Colombo, where Pakistan has been training for weeks, could test his squad’s adaptability and form.
India had been preparing uninterrupted for their campaign and will play a Group A match against Namibia national cricket team in New Delhi on Thursday before heading to Sri Lanka for the Pakistan showdown.
Pakistan boosted its confidence in the tournament with a convincing 32-run victory over the United States, with opener Sahibzada Farhan top-scoring in that match.
The highly charged India–Pakistan clash, one of cricket’s most watched rivalries, returns after Pakistan reversed a brief boycott of the fixture following multilateral discussions involving cricket boards and tournament organisers.