The marquee fixture is scheduled to take place in Colombo on February 15.
India and Pakistan will square off in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A clash on Sunday (February 15). The marquee fixture will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Ahead of the high-pressure game, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha addressed a press conference, where he urged both teams to uphold cricket’s traditional values.
During the Asia Cup tournament in the UAE last September, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts as the games were played amidst heightened tensions between two nations following the Pahalgam terror attack and retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
The arch-rivals faced each other thrice in the continental event and India emerged victorious on all occasions, including the title clash. In all three meetings, the Men in Blue refused to shake hands and exchange post-match pleasantries with the Pakistan players, who also engaged in provocative gestures on the field.
"The game should be played in that spirit of cricket," Agha told reporters on Saturday. "What I expect doesn't matter. But I do feel the game should be played in the way it has been played since cricket started. Rest is upto them [India], whatever they want to do."
When asked if Pakistan would shake hands if India offered, Agha diplomatically answered: “We will find out tomorrow (smiles).”
The Pakistan captain acknowledged the match’s significance, saying: "Bilkul [definitely], this game, its magnitude has always been bigger and will continue to be bigger. Tomorrow, too, the magnitude of the game will be bigger."
India hold a dominant 7-1 record over Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cups. Overall, the Men in Blue have won 13 of the 16 T20Is between the two sides.
"We don't have a good record against them in World Cups. But each time you play a new match, it is a new day and you have to play good cricket to win. You can't change history, but you can learn from it. And we have learned things and we will try and put up a good performance and win," Agha remarked.
Despite Pakistan being based in Colombo throughout the tournament, Agha dismissed talks of having any advantage over India
"We are based in Colombo and playing all our matches here, but I don't know how that is an advantage. On the ground, you have to play good cricket, you will need to execute plans otherwise you can't win. Just because you are based here that doesn't mean you will win the match," he explained.