Pakistan will face Ireland in the T20 World Cup warm-up match on February 4, 2026, at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. This is the only warm-up game for both teams before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7. Pakistan arrives in Sri Lanka with great confidence after whitewashing Australia 3-0 in their recent T20I series at home. The Salman Ali Agha-led side will play all their group matches in Sri Lanka, making this warm-up crucial for understanding local conditions. Ireland, led by Paul Stirling, will look to test their combinations ahead of a tough group that includes Australia, Sri Lanka, Oman, and Zimbabwe.
Pakistan vs Ireland Match Preview
The warm-up match will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, one of Colombo’s historic cricket venues and a venue that will host several T20 World Cup matches.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Pakistan vs Ireland, T20 World Cup Warm-up |
| Date | 04 February 2026 |
| Time | 5:00 PM IST / 11:30 AM GMT / 5:00 PM Local |
| Venue | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up Matches |
| Context | Only a warm-up for both teams before the T20 World Cup |
Pitch Report
The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo is known for being a spin-friendly venue. The pitch offers assistance to slower bowlers, especially as the match progresses. The surface tends to grip and turn, making it challenging for batters to score freely against quality spinners. Fast bowlers can extract some movement early with the new ball, but the conditions favor spin bowling overall.
The venue has undergone reconstruction ahead of the T20 World Cup and will host five matches in the tournament. Based on historical data, teams batting first have had a slight advantage at this ground. Totals around 160-170 should be competitive in T20s on this surface.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Spin-friendly, assists slower bowlers |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Around 155-165 in T20Is |
| Pace vs Spin | Spinners dominate, especially in middle overs |
| Toss Factor | Batting first may be preferred |
Weather Report
Colombo in early February enjoys pleasant weather conditions. February falls between the two monsoon seasons, making it one of the best months for cricket. The temperature during the evening match will hover around 30-31°C. While there is a chance of isolated showers, extended rain interruptions are unlikely. Humidity levels will be moderate to high at around 70-75%.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 30-31°C during evening hours |
| Sky | Partly cloudy |
| Rain Chance | Low to moderate (isolated showers possible) |
| Humidity | Moderate to high (70-75%) |
| Overall | Good conditions for cricket, minimal disruption expected |
Toss Prediction
Given the nature of the pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club, the captain winning the toss is likely to choose to bat first. The surface tends to slow down as the match progresses, making chasing difficult against quality spinners. Pakistan has a strong spin attack that will be effective in defending a total on this track. Expect the toss winner to bat first and set a target.
Injury Updates
Pakistan: The team has no major injury concerns heading into this warm-up match. They come fresh off a dominant 3-0 series whitewash over Australia. Captain Salman Ali Agha is in excellent form after scoring a career-best 76 in the second T20I against Australia. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah lead the pace attack, while the spin department features Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz. Babar Azam returns to add experience to the batting lineup. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Rizwan were notable omissions from the World Cup squad.
Ireland: Paul Stirling will lead the squad with Lorcan Tucker as his deputy. The team has 12 players from their 2024 T20 World Cup squad. Ross Adair returns after recovering from a knee injury. New additions include Tim Tector, Ben Calitz, and Matthew Humphreys. Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, and Mark Adair form the pace attack, while Ben White and Gareth Delany provide spin options. This will be Ireland’s ninth T20 World Cup appearance.
Dream11 Team For Pakistan vs Ireland
Pakistan vs Ireland Head-to-Head Records in T20Is
Pakistan has dominated this rivalry, winning 4 out of 5 T20I matches against Ireland. Their most recent meeting came at the T20 World Cup 2024 in Florida, where Pakistan won by 3 wickets in a low-scoring encounter. Ireland’s lone victory came in a bilateral series.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Matches | 5 |
| Pakistan Wins | 4 |
| Ireland Wins | 1 |
| Last Meeting (T20 WC 2024) | Pakistan won by 3 wickets |
| Highest Total | Pakistan 162/5 vs Ireland |
| First T20I Meeting | 2016 – Pakistan won |
Last Five Matches
- Pakistan won by 3 wickets – 16 Jun 2024 (T20 World Cup, Florida)
- Ireland won by 5 wickets – 14 May 2024 (Dublin)
- Pakistan won by 3 wickets – 12 May 2024 (Dublin)
- Pakistan won by 4 wickets – 19 Aug 2018 (Dublin)
- Pakistan won by 37 runs – 22 Jul 2016 (Dublin)
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | PAK | Batter | All-time leading run-scorer in T20Is, adds experience and class to the batting lineup |
| Salman Ali Agha | PAK | All-rounder/Captain | In red-hot form with a career-best 76 vs Australia, effective off-spinner |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | PAK | Bowler | Left-arm pace spearhead, excellent with the new ball and at death |
| Saim Ayub | PAK | Batter | Explosive opener, scored 40 and took 2-29 vs Australia in 1st T20I |
| Paul Stirling | IRE | Batter/Captain | Ireland’s highest T20I run-scorer with 3600+ runs, explosive opener |
| Josh Little | IRE | Bowler | Left-arm seamer, key wicket-taker with good variation |
| Harry Tector | IRE | Batter | A consistent middle-order batter anchors the innings |
| Abrar Ahmed | PAK | Bowler | Mystery spinner with excellent form, took 3-14 vs Australia |
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