Pakistan’s skipper Salman Ali Agha addresses a pre-match press convention forward of the conflict with arch-rival India on Sunday throughout the T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka. — PCB Pakistan skipper hopes Abhishek Sharma performs Sunday’s sport.Pakistan able to make changes amid menace of rain: Agha.Agha says “we’ll discover out tomorrow” about handshakes.Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expects Sunday’s politically charged Twenty20 World Cup showdown with bitter rivals India to be performed in the fitting spirit however is not sure about whether or not the customary pre‑match handshakes between the groups will occur.
The edges will conflict for the primary time since final yr’s Asia Cup remaining, a tense occasion staged following navy battle between India and Pakistan that just about escalated right into a fully-fledged conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
The most recent assembly comes after Pakistan, who have been angered by Bangladesh’s removing from the match for refusing to play in India over safety considerations, threatened to skip the competition earlier than abandoning that plan.
“I expect game should be played in the spirit that it has always been played since its inception,” Pakistan captain Agha informed reporters in Colombo on Saturday.
India beat Pakistan 3 times within the Asia Cup, together with within the September 28 remaining in Dubai, however refused to shake palms with their opponents earlier than or after matches.
“We’ll find out tomorrow (if it happens),” Agha stated.
Pakistan’s boycott menace put in danger one of many sport’s most profitable fixtures, leaving broadcasters fearing thousands and thousands of {dollars} can be misplaced in promoting income.
The Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) held a sequence of negotiations earlier than securing a compromise to make sure the match would go forward as deliberate.
“India v Pakistan is a game of high magnitude … Tomorrow’s game is no different,” Agha added.
“From our side, before heading into the tournament, we were prepared for all possible scenarios — whether the game would go ahead or not.”
India have a doubt over explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been struggling with a abdomen bug.
“I hope he plays tomorrow. I hope he’s recovering well,” stated Agha. “We want to play against the best, good luck to him.”
Agha stated the captains carried a lot of the stress.
“It’s an added responsibility when you are the captain of your side and you’re representing your country,” he stated.
“You can’t run away from the responsibility. When you’re representing your country and captaining a side, there will be pressure. You just need to find a way to deal with that.”
With the specter of rain on Sunday looming massive, Agha stated Pakistan have been able to adapt.
“We cannot control that but we’re ready to make adjustments if the game gets shortened,” he stated.
Each groups have gained their opening two matches of the match.
