Suryakumar Yadav Confirms India's Readiness for World Cup Clash Against Pakistan
India's Commitment to Compete
Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India's T20I team, has affirmed that the squad is fully prepared for their highly anticipated World Cup match against Pakistan. This comes after Pakistan announced a boycott of the fixture in solidarity with Bangladesh, which opted not to travel to India for the tournament.
Yadav's Remarks on India's Position
During a media briefing held in Colombo on Thursday, Suryakumar reiterated that India's position remains firm ahead of the Group A match against Pakistan, set for February 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium. He stated, "Our mindset is clear — we will play. Our flight is booked, and we are going. The rest is beyond my control. Their decision is theirs to make." He also mentioned that India previously faced Pakistan at a neutral venue during the Asia Cup in 2025, emphasizing their readiness for the upcoming game.
Acknowledging the Situation
The Indian captain recognized the complexities surrounding the situation, noting, "It is a challenging scenario for Pakistan, but I cannot make decisions for them."
T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is set to take place from February 7 to March 8. India will kick off their campaign against the USA on February 7, followed by their second group match on February 12. As defending champions, India is placed in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, the USA, and their rivals Pakistan.
Announced Team Squads
India's squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 includes: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Rinku Singh.
Pakistan's squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 features: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq.