The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches are in full swing, with all 20 teams getting their final preparation before the main tournament. Match 9 will feature Pakistan taking on Ireland in Colombo, a venue known for slow surfaces and spin assistance.
Pakistan enter this match with massive confidence after a historic whitewash over Australia, while Ireland will be looking to test themselves against one of the strongest spin attacks in world cricket.
PAK vs IRE Match Details
| Match Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up Matches |
| Match | Pakistan vs Ireland – Match 9 |
| Date | Wednesday, 4 February 2026 |
| Time | 05:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
Match Preview
Pakistan
Pakistan are coming off one of their best recent T20I performances, where they completely dominated Australia in a three-match series. Their spinners were unplayable, and the batting unit also showed better intent and balance.
Conditions in Sri Lanka are expected to suit Pakistan’s strengths, especially their spin-heavy bowling attack.
Key Strengths
- World-class spin attack
- Improved middle-order stability
- Recent series momentum
Key Concerns
- Rain interruptions
- Slow starts if batting first
Ireland
Ireland have shown steady progress in T20 cricket and recently won a series against Italy. Their batting unit is disciplined, but they often struggle to accelerate against quality spin bowling.
This match will be an important test for them ahead of the World Cup, especially against Pakistan’s varied bowling attack.
Key Strengths
- Solid top order
- All-rounders who contribute in both departments
Key Concerns
- Limited power hitters
- Lack of specialist spin options
Head-to-Head Record
| Teams | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | 4 |
| Ireland | 1 |
| No Result | 0 |
Recent Form (Last 5 Matches)
| Team | Last 5 Matches |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | NR, L, W, W, W |
| Ireland | W, W, L, W, W |
Weather & Pitch Report – Colombo
Weather
- Temperature: 27–29°C
- Humidity: 60–70%
- Rain: 30% chance (possible interruptions)
Pitch
- Slow surface
- Spinners get good assistance
- Batting becomes difficult as match progresses
- Chasing teams generally do better
Sinhalese Sports Club – T20I Stats
| Record | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 9 |
| Bat First Wins | 3 |
| Bat Second Wins | 5 |
| No Result | 1 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 118 |
| Highest Score | 176/3 |
| Lowest Score | 100/10 |
Predicted Playing XI
Pakistan
- Saim Ayub
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Fakhar Zaman
- Babar Azam
- Salman Agha
- Usman Khan (wk)
- Shadab Khan
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Shaheen Afridi
- Salman Mirza
- Abrar Ahmed
Ireland
- Paul Stirling (c)
- Ross Adair
- Harry Tector
- Lorcan Tucker (wk)
- Curtis Campher
- George Dockrell
- Gareth Delany
- Mark Adair
- Josh Little
- Barry McCarthy
- Craig Young
Dream11 Fantasy Tips
Small League (Safe Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- Curtis Campher
- Saim Ayub
- Mohammad Nawaz
- George Dockrell
Grand League (High-Risk Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- Paul Stirling
- Salman Agha
- Shadab Khan
- Abrar Ahmed
PAK vs IRE Dream11 Team Prediction – Who Will Win?
Rain could play a role in this match, making the toss very important. Batting first may be tricky on a slow Colombo pitch, especially if the surface grips.
Ireland have a decent batting unit but lack the kind of power hitters needed to counter Pakistan’s spin attack. Pakistan, on the other hand, are coming off a dominant series win and look well prepared for these conditions.
Their bowling depth, especially in spin, gives them a clear edge in this warm-up contest.
Predicted Winner: Pakistan
Injury Update
| Team | Status |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | No injury updates |
| Ireland | No injury updates |
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