Pakistan Focused on Performance as T20 World Cup 2026 Campaign Begins, Says Captain Salman Ali Agha

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.