Sports – T20 2026 Pakistan vs. India

Padmini Arhant 

Congratulations! To the winning team India in the qualifying round match against Pakistan held on date – February 15, 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Congratulations! To Pakistan for demonstrating extraordinary sportsmanship in the agreement to play T-20 2026 against India with high economic stakes especially for India.

ICC as a result of BCCI politics was in hot waters considering the investments involved by vested interests that would have otherwise tanked had Pakistan maintained the legitimate boycott on Indian politicizing of the sport in the unfair and unethical expulsion of Bangladesh. 

Pakistan is still very much part of the tournament with remaining matches to be played until the final round whoever that might be in the grand final. 

In Asia Cup 2025 under 19 tournament, the scenario was similar with Pakistan losing against India in the initial round, and then emerged winner in the final match against India with Pakistan’s youth cricketer singular spectacular score 175 odd runs against the entire Indian team score of 155 runs in that international event.

In this T20 there has been many surprises with Nepal losing against Italy, and likewise England and Australia experiencing their loss against teams that were not expected to be formidable.

Winning and losing is never permanent.

However, humility and civility to shake hands upon winning and losing in particular with the other team, and committee members in public view makes the gesture more honorable than winning any innings.

Pakistan extending kinship and solidarity with Bangladesh upon the latter discriminatively isolated due to Indian politics’ influence on the international organization like International Cricket Council, the ICC with the remaining members being silent spectators conforming to complicity shed light on sports to be distinct and delineated from hegemonic politics.  

Pakistan set a remarkable precedence in sportsmanship with emphasis on fairness in the treatment of members in an international sport. 

Pakistan Cricket Board and the selection committee heeding game experts and audience call on team selection would be prudent rather than retaining own standard to stick with players, consistently proven under performers or non-delivery individuals in the relevant skills as batsmen, bowler and fielder. 

The sports fans could bring about the change on the cricket board and system to select those players who can deliver unlike the members selected to make up for the team. 

Such practice to provide repeat opportunities to players despite declined and dismal track record is like experiments done using the same failed method with expectation of a different result.

The culture prevalent in politics with many on life time tenure in and out of office regardless of corruption and criminality throughout political career and yet continue with impunity. 

The sports fans listing names of players and experts sharing their views in the selection process would be a collaborative effort for successful outcome.

At the end of the day, all things ultimately remain with viewership. without whom the event would not have excitement through audience participation. 

Not to mention, the viewership directly linked to revenue and profitability in all dimensions and aspects. 

T20 is still on and all not lost with this match for Pakistan. Nonetheless, the team overhaul with top notch calibre is the way moving forward.

Padmini Arhant