Conditions aren’t in our control, performance is, says Salman Ali Agha

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said on Friday that while weather and external factors remain unpredictable, his side’s mindset and preparation are firmly within their control as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 edges into full swing.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Colombo ahead of Pakistan’s tournament opener against the Netherlands on Saturday, Agha played down any notion of pressure on his team, saying the squad was “fully committed to producing our best performance in every game.”

He said that the camp’s preparation had been thorough and that attention was now squarely on executing the team’s plans on the field.

Agha reiterated that Pakistan’s aim remained to win all their fixtures and limit reliance on net run-rate calculations, though the weather could play a part in how matches unfold.

“Conditions are not in our hands, but performance surely is,” he said, underlining a pragmatic yet focused approach from the touring side.

On his personal batting role, Agha confirmed he would stay put at No 3, dismissing suggestions of altering the batting order to chase or set targets more flexibly.

Pakistan’s group stage has taken on added complexity following the team’s announcement that they will not take the field against India, the marquee fixture scheduled for February15 in Colombo.

The decision — backed by Pakistan’s government — was framed as solidarity with Bangladesh, which declined to travel to India citing security concerns.

That stance has reshaped Pakistan’s route through the group. With India out of the equation, Pakistan will now face the Netherlands, the United States and Namibia with no second chance against their arch-rivals — a development that tightens the margin for error. Missing the match means forfeiting two points, increasing the importance of winning all remaining fixtures to secure progression to the Super 8s.

Earlier, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the co-host nation, formally urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider its boycott, warning that cancelling the India clash could have far-reaching financial and sporting repercussions — from tourism impacts to lost broadcast revenue — and highlighted the long history between the two boards.

Earlier, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that the Indian team will travel to Colombo for the scheduled match, saying their preparations and travel plans remain unchanged despite the uncertainty. As Pakistan’s camp turns inward to focus on performance and execution, the remainder of their group campaign looks set to test both skill and resilience in equal measu