ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Match Details
Match: Pakistan vs Namibia – Group A
Date: 18 February 2026
Day: Wednesday
Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
Time: 03:00 PM (Local) / 03:00 PM IST
Live Telecast & Streaming
Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Probable Playing XI
Pakistan Probable XI
Salman Ali Agha (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Tariq
Namibia Probable XI
Gerhard Erasmus (c), Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green (wk), JJ Smit, Jan Nikol Loftie-Eaton, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo, Malan Kruger, Williem Myburgh
Pitch Report
The Sinhalese Sports Club pitch in Colombo generally offers a balanced surface where batters can play their strokes freely once settled, while fast bowlers may receive some early movement with the new ball. Spinners often play an important role during the middle overs as the surface slows down. A first-innings total around 160–170 is expected to be competitive.
Weather Report
Colombo is expected to witness warm and humid afternoon conditions with temperatures around 28–31°C. Rain interruptions are unlikely, and a full match is expected.
Match Prediction
Pakistan enters the contest under pressure after recent results and will aim to secure a crucial win to stay in contention for qualification. With experienced batters such as Babar Azam and strong pace options led by Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan holds a clear advantage on paper. Namibia, however, has previously shown the ability to challenge stronger sides and will rely on all-rounders like Gerhard Erasmus and David Wiese to create an upset. Considering squad depth and experience, Pakistan starts as favorites, but Namibia’s fighting spirit could make the contest competitive.
Key Players
Pakistan
Babar Azam: Experienced top-order batter capable of anchoring the innings.
Shaheen Afridi: Strike fast bowler who can provide early breakthroughs.
Shadab Khan: Impact all-rounder contributing with both bat and ball.
Namibia
Gerhard Erasmus: Captain and reliable middle-order batter.
JJ Smit: Experienced all-rounder known for finishing abilities.
Ruben Trumpelmann: Left-arm pacer capable of troubling batters with swing.