WHO: india vs pakistan
What: ICC 2026 T20 World Cup
Where: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
when: Sunday 15 February 7pm (13:30 GMT)
How to follow: We will complete all preparations Al Jazeera Sports Channel Our stream of text comments begins at 9:30 GMT.
One of the world’s most watched sporting events is set to hit screens around the world on Sunday, but it took last-minute negotiations to overturn Pakistan’s decision to boycott its T20 World Cup match against neighbors and rivals India.
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After Bangladesh was expelled from the World Cup for refusing to play against India, the Pakistani government stepped in to prevent the group stage from going ahead to show solidarity with the Bangladesh team.
Pakistan reversed its decision after talks with the game’s governing body – the International Cricket Council (ICC) – Bangladesh and tournament co-host Sri Lanka.
Al Jazeera Sports follows the match and now things return to the on-field rivalry – although handshakes and hand gestures will once again be in the spotlight.
What happened last time India played Pakistan?
Sunday’s group stage is a repeat of the 2025 Asian Cup final, india won By five wickets.
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The match was very similar to the teams’ previous encounters in the tournament but was overshadowed by the lack of handshakes between the two sides and India’s refusal to accept the trophy. The trophy was originally presented to them by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the country’s home minister.
Why can Pakistan play in Sri Lanka but not India but not Bangladesh?
India and Pakistan have reached an agreement in 2024, and the matches between the two sides will be held in Play at a neutral venueeven if either side is hosting a tournament.
Bangladesh refused to play the match in India ahead of the tournament due to security concerns, which was not agreed or sanctioned by the ICC.
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An Indian cricketer changes the life of a Pakistani player
Pakistan’s Usman Tariq gave up his cricketing dreams to return home and started a job as a salesman in Dubai before a biopic on Indian great Mahendra Singh Dhoni changed his life.
The double-jointed spinner’s unusual bowling action created a lot of buzz in his first T20 World Cup and now he comes into Sunday’s match against India as one of Pakistan’s main weapons.
His inspiration comes from India, and Tariq admitted that if he had not watched the 2016 Bollywood film MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, he might not be playing cricket today.
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Based on the life of India’s World Cup-winning captain, the film tells a story of courage, rejection and ultimate glory, and convinces Tariq that it’s never too late to chase your ambitions.
“I originally wanted to be famous in cricket, but one day I saw this film and it made me believe that I could do the same,” Tariq said.
Tariq, now 30, left Dubai to travel the world and develop into a mysterious spinner.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha insists Tariq will be his team’s special weapon against their old rivals after the Islamabad government in a U-turn reversed its previous order to boycott matches against India and Tariq was allowed to take part in the tournament.
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“Tariq is our X-factor and key weapon,” Agha said before the match after Pakistan used him sparingly to protect his unique moves.
Since making his international debut three months ago, Tariq has taken 11 wickets in four T20 internationals, including a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi.
This week he made his World Cup debut in Colombo with a game-winning 3-27 win over the United States.
Why is Tariq’s bowling action so controversial?
The 28-year-old’s bizarre bowling action has been reported as illegal twice in the past two years, only to be proven illegal by the ICC laboratory both times.
There’s a hint of mystery in his movements, exaggerated pauses before slingshot-like strikes.
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England’s Tom Banton raised questions about Tariq’s behavior during the UAE T20 league last year.
Australia all-rounder Cameron Green once again raised questions after he imitated Tariq’s rounded arms during the T20 series ahead of the World Cup in Lahore.
But India’s Ravichandran Ashwin is a good spinner himself and umpire Anil Chaudhary declared Tariq’s bowling action within the rules.
“I believe this is completely legal,” Ashwin wrote on X, explaining several factors behind the action.
Tariq is unfazed by the doubters.
“I have two corners on my bowling arm elbow, which is rare,” Tariq said. “I’ve had permission twice so I believe it’s legal.
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“I’ve struggled this far and don’t worry about such baseless questions.”
Tarik’s progress has come in leaps and bounds. Last year, he took 20 wickets in the Caribbean Premier League to force his way into the Pakistan team.
“Last year when I was busy with my wedding, my coach told me about my inclusion in the Pakistan team and at first I thought it was a prank,” Tariq said.
“But it’s true, so I think my wife brings me luck.”
From a salesman in Dubai to Pakistan’s potential ace against India, Tariq’s script is still being written.
India, Pakistan tourism windfall boosts Colombo development
Prices for flights and hotel bookings to Colombo, Sri Lanka, have soared as thousands of fans flocked to the city to watch India take on Pakistan.
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The game at Sri Lanka’s largest stadium has been sold out, with around 35,000 tickets sold, and most hotels in Colombo have doubled their prices ahead of the game – with prices per room climbing to $660 a night from the typical price of about $100 to $150 a night, according to multiple booking sites.
Flights from major cities such as Chennai and Delhi have become more plentiful due to last-minute bookings following this week’s matches, according to three travel agencies in Colombo.
Prices for flights from Chennai (about an hour and a half away) have more than tripled to about $623 to $756, while prices for flights from Delhi have increased by more than 50% to about $666.
Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operator (SLAITO) president Nalin Jayasundera said hotels were fully booked. “Most fans buy all-inclusive packages, which can range from $1,500 to $2,000 or more, depending on the price of airfare, hotel and flights,” Jayasundera said.
(Al Jazeera)
Tourism is Sri Lanka’s third largest foreign exchange earner and is famous for its ancient temples, pristine beaches and lush tea plantations.
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It is hoped that hosting more sporting events will boost economic growth in Sri Lanka, which is recovering from a severe financial crisis and a recent cyclone that killed 650 people.
Buddhika Hewawasam, chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Board, told Reuters that about 20% of the 100,000 tourists who came to Sri Lanka in the first 10 days of February came to watch the India-Pakistan cricket match.
The island nation hopes to position itself as a neutral venue for contests between political rivals.
“This is a clear indication of the confidence in Sri Lanka as a neutral cricket venue. This is a welcome message to all South Asian countries, be it India, Pakistan or Bangladesh, that they can play cricket in Sri Lanka,” he said.
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Lahore native Mian Sultan is looking forward to traveling to Sri Lanka to watch the match.
“I think it’s going to be a great experience,” said Sultan, who paid $800 for a front-row seat to watch the game with a friend who flew in from New Zealand. “I’m very excited about this game.”
Sultan added that he believed Pakistan could “definitely” win on Sunday.
Predict India Team News
Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson/Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
Predict Pakistan Team
Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Mirza, Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah Pacer, Abrar Ahmed