Key Highlights
- Pakistan to face Ireland in the ninth warm-up match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
- The contest will take place at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo on February 4, 5:00 PM IST.
- Key players for Pakistan include Saim Ayub and Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Ireland’s Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher are notable.
- The match is crucial for final preparations before the group stage of the World Cup.
Pakistan’s Preparation Agenda
Pakistan aims to strengthen their batting depth and sharpen bowling strategies. The team will focus on stability with Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan at the top, while the middle order will concentrate on accelerating efficiently.
The pace attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, will work on improving execution in critical overs. Pakistan hopes to enter the World Cup with momentum and balance.
Ireland’s Tactical Focus
Ireland sees this match as a valuable test against a strong opponent. Paul Stirling aims for an aggressive start, while all-rounders like George Dockrell will contribute across both departments. The Irish bowlers will focus on discipline and smart variations to counter Pakistan’s batting strength.
Match Playing XI
The predicted teams are as follows:
- Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
- Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wicket-keeper), Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Ben White, Craig Young
Expert Picks for Fantasy Cricket
The expert picks for the PAK vs IRE Dream11 include:
- Captaincy: Saim Ayub and Salman Agha.
- Pick 1-3-4-3: Fakhar Zaman, Mark Adair, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub (captain), Curtis Campher (vice-captain).
The overall squad balance will position Pakistan for a winning outcome in this warm-up match.
