India and Pakistan will face each other in next year’s T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15 at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo as per the tournament schedule, which will be unveiled by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Mumbai on November 25. The marquee contest- the first time two teams have met since the heated Asia Cup game- is India’s third group-stage clash.

It has been reported that both these arch-rivals have been grouped along with the United States of America (USA), the Netherlands, and Namibia. India’s opening clash of the event will be against the USA on the opening day, February 08, before they take on Namibia on February 12, followed by Pakistan.

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The final group-stage encounter for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side will be on February 18 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad against the Netherlands. There will be three games a day during the group stage of the event, as it will be stretched to March 8, with the games in Sri Lanka being played in Colombo and Kandy.

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash to take place on February 15 in Colombo

The format is the same as the previous event in 2024 in the USA and West Indies, where the 20 teams were divided into five groups of four, with the top two teams from each of the four groups progressing into the Super Eight phase, where they will be further divided into two groups of four each. The top two will qualify for the semifinals, followed by the final.

If India progresses to the second stage, then their three Super Eight games will be played in Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Kolkata, as the semi-final will be at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The ICC has shortlisted Colombo or Kolkata as the other semifinal venue, depending on the qualification.

India are the defending champions, having beaten South Africa in the final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Apart from the hosts, the other 18 teams participating in the World Cup are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States of America, the West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman, and the UAE.

The excitement for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has soared as the group stage lineup is officially confirmed. Co-hosts India and Sri Lanka find themselves in contrasting scenarios, with India receiving a comparatively straightforward group while Sri Lanka are placed in a much tougher challenge early on.

This edition will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups of five, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the Super Eight stage.

T20 World Cup 2026 Groups

India, currently one of the strongest T20I units in world cricket, headline Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan. Associate sides Namibia, Netherlands and the USA have shown rapid improvement in recent tournaments, but India and Pakistan will still back themselves to advance. Their blockbuster meeting is expected to be one of the most-watched games of the tournament.

Sri Lanka, co-hosts and former champions, must battle through a challenging Group B. Australia enter as favourites, while Ireland and Zimbabwe have the reputation of creating major upsets on the world stage. Oman’s steady rise adds even more unpredictability.

Groups C and D carry their own elements of suspense. England and West Indies, both World Cup-winning teams, share Group C with Bangladesh, making it competitive from top to bottom. Group D appears equally fierce with South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan all capable of deep runs in the tournament, while UAE and Canada hope to challenge whenever opportunities arise.

With matches scheduled across major venues in India and Sri Lanka, and the final set for Ahmedabad, unless Pakistan qualify, prompting a shift to Colombo, the stage is set for a thrilling cricket festival. The journey to global T20 glory begins soon, and every group promises battles worth watching.

The countdown has begun for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with excitement peaking around yet another India–Pakistan showdown. According to RevSportz, India are set to open their campaign against the USA, while the marquee game against Pakistan is likely scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.

The tournament is expected to run from February 7 to March 8, bringing a fresh format and renewed rivalry energy. Even in recent years where the contests have been largely one-sided, any Indo-Pak match transcends cricket, fuelled by history, fan passion, and geopolitics.

Below is a look at India’s tentative key fixtures:

*If India qualify

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Home support, fierce rivalries and global expansion define upcoming T20 spectacle

Mumbai has been earmarked to host one of the semi-finals on March 5, providing Indian fans a dream knockout setting if the hosts make the last four. The grand finale, meanwhile, is planned at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the largest cricket venue in the world, where the atmosphere will be electric should India reach the title clash.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been given venue-based advantages as well. If either team qualifies for the semi-finals, they will play in Colombo. This ensures home support and aligns with the long-standing understanding between India and Pakistan to play each other only at neutral venues in ICC and ACC events during the current rights period.

Major ICC tournaments continually push global cricket into new markets, and USA’s presence in India’s opening match signals the game’s rapid expansion. With powerhouse squads, high expectations, and home-soil pressure, India will be keen to end their T20 World Cup drought.

The fixtures are expected to be officially confirmed in the coming months, but one thing is certain, the cricketing world already has February 15 circled in red. The biggest rivalry in sports is set to enthrall once again.

India A came into the second fixture of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 against Pakistan A at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha after their massive victory over the United Arab Emirates, where their 14-year-old opening batter, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, crunched a fine century and tore apart the opponent's bowling.

India were at a good position of 791/1 in the ninth over before losing their track and kept losing wickets in a cluster from one end. This created a panic button among the middle order, who couldn’t put up a great show with the bat and ended up with low scores individually. This resulted in the side putting a low score in their allotted 20 overs of the innings.

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But a brilliant shot came from Ramandeep Singh, who smashed the left-arm spinner of the Pakistan side, Maaz Sadaqat, over the covers with the spin to collect six runs, which was an excellent shot to play against someone high in confidence with two wickets.

Watch: Ramandeep Singh crunches huge 6 during INDA vs PAKA Rising Stars 2025

Pakistan A won the toss and decided to bowl first on a surface that was a little slow to start with. Priyansh Arya again ended up with a low score of 10 runs in nine balls with the help of two boundaries at a strike rate of 111.11, while Suryavanshi clubbed 45 runs in 28 balls at a strike rate of 160.71, smashing five boundaries and three sixes.

Inside-out… and boom 💥

Ramandeep Singh finally breaks the long wait with a blazing extra-cover hit.

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— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) November 16, 2025

The number three batter of the Blue Brigade, Naman Dhir, cracked a fine knock of 35 runs in 20 balls with the help of six boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 175. Their middle order fell like a pack of cards as they lost seven wickets for 35 runs in around seven overs and got bundled out for 136.

Pakistan went off to a flying start with 50 coming in the fifth over without any damage. Their opening batter, Mohammad Naeem, ended with 29 unbeaten runs in 16 balls at a strike rate of 181.25, while Sadaqat smashed 15 unbeaten runs.

Cricket is set to make a return at the Olympics in the upcoming season of the games, which will be hosted by Los Angeles in 2028. The gentlemen’s game is returning to the Olympic stage after more than a century, having last been played at the Paris Games in 1900. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has now finalized how the six men’s and women’s teams will qualify for the competition.

During the recent ICC board meeting in Dubai, the cricketing governing body confirmed that each region would have a chance to send one team for the Olympics. The sixth and final spot of the competition will be decided through a global qualifying tournament.

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“There have been discussions around the participation of teams, and it has been decided that the six teams will come through the top-ranked team from each region/continent, while the sixth comes from the global qualifier. The details will be shared by the ICC in due course, but the roadmap has more or less been frozen.” The veteran administrator who was part of the meeting was quoted by the Times of India.

Will India face Pakistan in Los Angeles 2028 Olympics?

That means that, based on current rankings, India qualifies from Asia, Australia from Oceania, England from Europe, and South Africa from Africa. It will be exciting to see the United States of America, as hosts, or the Americas or the West Indies, participate in the tournament.

“The Board reviewed the ICC’s ongoing engagement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28), as cricket deepens its footprint in the global multisport landscape. At LA28, both the men’s and women’s T20 events will feature six teams each, comprising 28 matches in total.” The ICC expressed in a statement.

India and Pakistan clashes have been really feisty these days, including the World Cups in both men’s and women’s, the Asia Cup 2025, and even in the Hong Kong Sixes 2025. The chapter of the Olympics will add another chapter to history.

The battle between India and Pakistan reached Hong Kong for the tournament called Hong Kong Sixes 2025 at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, where the rules are a bit different, with six overs of the game for each team. The Blue Brigade decided to go with their six retired players of wicket-keeper- Bharath Chipli, Robin Uthappa, captain- Dinesh Karthik, Stuart Binny, Shahbaz Nadeem, Abhimanyu Mithun, and Priyank Panchal. 

Meanwhile, the Pakistan side decided to go with their young and active players who are on the verge of making their appearance for the national side. They were under the leadership of Abbas Afridi, Maaz Sadaqa, wicket-keeper Khawaja Nafay, Abdul Samad, Muhammad Shahzad, Saad Masood, and Shahid Aziz.

India’s openers shoulder them to 86/4 to gain two-run win

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first, given the help chasing sides get in this competition. India’s openers got a strong start with the bat as Uthappa smashed 28 runs in 11 balls with the help of two boundaries and three sixes, while Chipli clubbed 24 runs in 13 balls to reach 86/4 in their allotted six overs.

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In the chase, Pakistan reached 41/1 in their three overs. Their opening wicket-keeper batter, Nafay, got 18 unbeaten runs in nine balls with the help of two sixes and one four, while Samad drilled 16 runs in six balls, shouldering on two boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 266.67.

But unfortunately, the rain came after the end of three overs as the players rushed back to the dressing room. But later, the umpires ruled India victorious by two runs in the DLS method.

India vs Pakistan full match highlights and scorecard summary- 

Cricket fans around the globe are in for another exciting encounter between India and Pakistan as they take part in the Hong Kong Sixes 2025. In the short-form tournament's electrifying six-a-side format, matches will be short and explosive, full of boundaries, wickets, and nonstop action. The highly-anticipated match will be played at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Mong Kok on Friday, November 7, and it will be a day filled with adrenaline and entertainment.

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Dinesh Karthik will captain the Indian team, leading them into battle against their arch-rivals Pakistan in what is expected to be a high-intensity match. With each team packing power hitters and explosive bowlers, the contest will move at lightning speed and make it hard for fans to turn away from their screens. The Hong Kong Sixes format enhances the excitement, with every over full of drama, quick runs, and game-changing actions for cricket fans to watch.

IND vs PAK: Match Details

IND vs PAK: Live Broadcast & Streaming Details

Fans in India can tune in via television or mobile devices. Both Sony Sports Network and FanCode hold official broadcasting and digital streaming rights.

IND vs PAK: Playing 6s

India (Playing 6): Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Robin Uthappa, Stuart Binny, Abhimanyu Mithun, Bharath Chipli, Shahbaz Nadeem
Pakistan (Playing 6): Abbas Afridi (c), Khawaja Nafay (w), Maaz Sadaqat, Shahid Aziz, Muhammad Shahzad, Saad Masood

IND vs PAK: Format

The Hong Kong Sixes carnival is undeniably one of the fastest and most thrilling formats of cricket, played with six players per side and six overs per innings. Each pool in the tournament has three teams, while the top two teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals.

India has only won the tournament once, in 2005, while Pakistan were runners-up last year to Sri Lanka in the final. Pakistan has historically been one of the most successful teams in the tournament, winning the tournament a total of five times and maintaining a strong position in the tournament.

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has been suspended for two matches after the latest official verdict from the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the pacer missed the first ODI of the three-match home ODI series against South Africa on Tuesday (November 4). Here we can know the reason for his suspension. 

Why has Haris Rauf been suspended for two games?

The Asia Cup 2025 was in the heat whenever India faced Pakistan. They faced thrice, including the Final, and all were in the hot atmospheres due to various reasons. During the matches against India, Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf repeatedly made provocative gestures. The ICC statement confirmed that Rauf was found guilty in two separate incidents during the group stage (September 14) and the Final (September 28) against India in the Asia Cup 2025, as his conduct was noted "that brings the game into disrepute" as per Article 2.21.

Rauf has been punished with a total of four demerit points, two demerit points from each game, which equals two suspension points, as the fast bowler will miss two international matches for Pakistan. So, apart from the ODI series opener, Rauf will also miss the second game of the series, scheduled on Thursday (November 6). Apart from receiving two demerit points from each match, Rauf has also been fined 30% of his match fees from each fixture.  

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There are more demerit points for Indian and Pakistan players 

Meanwhile, Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has been fined 30 percent of his match fees and handed two demerit points for breaching Article 2.21 in relation to their group stage meeting against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. In relation to the same match, Pakistan cricketer Sahibzada Farzan has been issued an official warning and handed one demerit point. 

Indian right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has also been issued an official warning and handed one demerit point for breaching Article 2.21 during the Asia Cup 2025 Final against Pakistan.

On the other hand, another Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was charged with a breach of Article 2.6 during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Six clash against Pakistan, which was related to any gesture that is obscene, offensive, or insulting for actions. However, Singh ultimately hasn't been punished with anything, as the match referee Andy Pycroft didn't find him guilty. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Devajit Saikia, has dropped a massive update on them receiving the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from ACC chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the interior minister of Pakistan. Naqvi didn’t give the trophy to the Suryakumar Yadav-led side after they refused to collect it from his hands.

The entire Asia Cup 2025 has seen several controversies regarding the India vs Pakistan clashes due to the Pahalgam terror attack in the middle of the year. India’s captain didn’t shake hands at the toss, and the trend continued even after earning victory in the fixtures till the final.

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"Yes, we are a little bit unhappy with the way the trophy has not been given to us, even after a month. We are pursuing this matter. About 10 days ago, we also wrote a letter to the chairman of ACC, but there is no change in their stand. They are still keeping the trophy under their custody, but we hope that the trophy will reach us in a day or two at the BCCI office in Mumbai.” Devajit Saikia told the PTI videos.

Devajit Saikia updates on when India will receive their Asia Cup 2025 trophy

Saikia mentioned that if the trophy is not handed over to the BCCI soon, then they would take the issue to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the upcoming meeting, which is scheduled to take place on November 04 in Dubai.

“On behalf of BCCI, we are fully prepared for how to deal with the matter, and I can assure the people of India that the trophy will come back to India; only the timeline is not fixed. One day it will come. We have won all matches against Pakistan and won the trophy. We have won the championship. Everything is on record. Only the trophy is missing.” Saikia addressed.

The presentation ceremony took place in the final, but the Indian team didn’t receive the trophy from Naqvi. They were seen celebrating without the title on the stage at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The cricketing world is set for another thrilling chapter of the India–Pakistan rivalry as both teams have been drawn in the same group for the upcoming Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship 2025, formerly known as the Emerging Asia Cup. The tournament, organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), will take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 14 to 23, featuring Asia’s most promising young talents.

Fresh Identity, Same Intensity

The rebranded Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship aims to provide a bigger platform for the continent’s next generation of cricketers. The format has been tweaked to make it more competitive, a compact T20 tournament with eight teams, 15 matches, and no Super Four stage.

Each team will play three group-stage games, and the top two teams from each group will advance directly to the semifinals on November 21, with the final scheduled for November 23.

Teams and Group Division

All matches will be held at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha, known for its batting-friendly surface and lively evening atmosphere.

Full Schedule – Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

Defending Champions Eye Repeat Glory

Afghanistan A, the reigning champions, will look to defend their title after their stunning triumph in the 2024 edition. They shocked everyone by defeating India A in the semifinals and Sri Lanka A in the final. The Afghan youngsters’ mix of power hitters and crafty spinners makes them a genuine threat once again.

Spotlight on the India–Pakistan Showdown

The most awaited clash, India vs Pakistan on November 16, is already generating buzz across the cricket world. Both sides are fielding their A squads, stacked with domestic performers, fringe internationals, and IPL/PSL hopefuls.

This will be their first meeting since the senior Asia Cup earlier this year, which ended in controversy over a trophy handover row involving ACC chief Naqvi. Reports suggest tensions still simmer between the boards, but fans will hope the focus remains on cricket this time.

Given the tournament’s knockout-heavy format, the India–Pakistan clash could be crucial in determining semifinal qualification, and possibly a final rematch if both teams go the distance.

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Tournament Format Overview

Rising Stars and Senior Pros

While India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will send their A sides, the associate nations, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong, will field their senior national teams, ensuring a fascinating blend of youth and experience.

Expect exciting performances from players like India’s domestic stars, Pakistan’s PSL regulars, and Afghanistan’s young spinners, all hungry to make a mark on the international stage.

Broadcast and Streaming Information

Another Asian Cricket Festival Awaits

The Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship 2025 isn’t just another development tournament, it’s a glimpse into Asia’s cricketing future. With fierce rivalries, rising stars, and high-stakes knockout drama, the Doha event is set to light up November.

And with another Under-19 Asia Cup scheduled for December, the stage is perfectly set for Asia’s cricket pipeline to showcase its depth and talent before the next major ICC cycle.