How prepared is PAK for India clash amid adverse weather? Agha explains | T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha spoke to the media ahead of the high-profile T20 World Cup 2026 match against India in Colombo and emphasized that preparation, practice and adapting to the conditions will be key to overcoming India’s challenge.
Balanced Bowling Attack to Challenge India
Salman underlined that spinners can play a dominant role on Sri Lankan pitches, but fast bowlers will also have a say. “It is possible for the spinner to dominate here, but I think the fast bowler will also have a role here. Because fast bowling is such a skill that you cannot write it down anywhere. Its role is always there. So, I think it will have a role here too. We have a lot of spinners, but we also have fast bowlers that we can use when necessary,” he said.
He also clarified that Pakistan has plans to target all Indian attackers rather than targeting individuals. Emphasizing the team’s comprehensive preparation, Ağa added, “No, we did not target a few people. We have to play against 11 players and we have plans against all of them. We do this normally.”
‘The draw will not determine the result’
Agha emphasized that winning or losing the toss is not the deciding factor in T20 cricket. “I guess you can’t decide the toss from the game. At the end of the day, whether you win or lose the toss, you will win the match only if you play good cricket,” he said. He reiterated that executing strategies throughout the entire match is more important than any pre-game advantage.
Adapting to Colombo Conditions
Ağa, who played all group matches in Colombo, emphasized that the team adapted well to the climate and field conditions, but that preparation alone cannot guarantee success. “We are used to playing here. This is our only advantage. You have to play cricket well on the field. You have to follow the 40 overs plan, otherwise you cannot win,” he said.
He added that the team’s flexibility allowed him to safely select any 11 of the 15-man squad depending on conditions and requirements.
Importance of Powerplay and Batting Plans
The captain emphasized that a strong start in the powerplay overs will be crucial. “You have to start well in T20 matches, be it bowling or batting. That’s why the power play is very important. And I think that will be very important tomorrow too. We will try to start well both in bowling and batting.”
He also touched on the form of key players and praised Babar Azam’s consistency. “Babar has scored 50 runs in the last three innings and the other day he hit 40 singles and that was a very important innings for us. I don’t think it is a concern for us. I think he is batting well and scoring runs for us. We are very happy with it,” Agha said.
Weather Preparedness
Agha acknowledged the possibility of rain affecting the match but insisted the team was prepared for all scenarios. “I have said this many times before, we cannot do anything about the rain. Yes, if the match is short and the overs are reduced, of course we are ready. If the overs are reduced, we know what to do,” he said.
Focus on Application, Not History
Despite India’s strong record against Pakistan in the World Cup, Agha emphasized on treating every match as a new challenge. “Obviously I don’t have a good record against them in World Cups. But whenever you come to play a new match, it is a new day, a new match. You have to play good cricket to win. You cannot change history. You can learn from it,” he said.
