NewsNo – Colombo
Pakistan skipper Salman Agha knows the headline act has fallen off the playbill, yet he sounds anything but flustered. Asked what he would tell Sri Lankans disappointed by the loss of an India-Pakistan encounter, the 31-year-old smiled and offered a shrug: “There are three other games. The fans can come and watch those. I’m sure it will be exciting. Don’t worry (grins).”
That laid-back tone has followed Agha ever since the squad arrived on the island for the men’s T20 World Cup. Politics kept the neighbours apart; cricket, Agha hopes, will keep the event alive.
Key facts first
• Pakistan face Netherlands on 7 February, USA on 10 February and Namibia on 18 February, all at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
• Pakistan’s record in completed T20Is in Sri Lanka stands at nine wins, four defeats.
• The side failed to pass the first stage of the last three ICC tournaments.
Second home feel
“Sri Lanka is like a second home for me,” Agha said later in the press conference. “I have played here so many times, and I have toured here five or six times now.”
The affection runs both ways. Sri Lankan crowds have traditionally warmed to Pakistan teams, and local sellers expect a healthy trade in green shirts once more. The island’s recent hardships – a brutal cyclone in December and an uneasy economy – have sharpened appreciation for any visiting side that brings entertainment without political baggage.
Form guide, without the noise
Pakistan’s recent global returns look bleak: early exits in the 2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup and last year’s Champions Trophy. Yet results since August suggest a more settled unit. Series wins over Bangladesh and New Zealand, plus a split tour of Australia, have sharpened roles that had drifted over the previous 18 months.
“In the last three events, we couldn’t play the kind of cricket people want from us, and what we expect from ourselves,” Agha admitted. “We can learn from that and we have learned from that. But we’re playing very good cricket since in the last six months. We’re ticking every box, every player knows their roles and are executing it very well. We’re very hopeful that we’ll be able to play good cricket this tournament and win this event.”
Conditions could suit
The Premadasa surface usually offers slow turn under lights, something Pakistan’s left-armers have exploited here before. Shadab Khan, fresh from a seven-for in Multan, spoke privately of enjoying “the kind of bounce that lets you bowl for a stumping.” Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman’s clean striking against spin in warm-ups has put pressure on incumbent opener Saim Ayub, though selectors insist they want “options rather than dilemmas.”
Sri Lankan angle
Organisers still expect healthy gates despite the missing blockbuster. One board official noted that advance sales for Pakistan-Netherlands hit 70 per cent in the first 48 hours – strong by local standards. Many fans simply want live cricket after a domestic season disrupted by flooding.
Perspective, not panic
The absence of an India fixture inevitably dents television numbers, yet it could hand Pakistan quieter preparation. Agha, often described by coaches as “frustratingly chilled,” seems content with that trade-off. “We love playing in Sri Lanka and we’re very excited this time around as well,” he said, before heading to an optional net that half the squad attended.
Whatever the politics, three group matches remain. If Agha’s calm is contagious, Pakistan may finally turn recent lessons into knockout progress.
