Pakistan are set to kick off their preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup with a three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka early next year. The PCB confirmed that the side, captained by Salman Agha, will travel to the island nation in January, with all fixtures scheduled for Dambulla on January 7, 9, and 11. The compact tour is designed to provide Pakistan with early momentum before the global tournament, which begins in February 2026.
The PCB said in an official statement that the series would offer valuable match practice and give the players a chance to adapt to Sri Lankan conditions in advance. Considering that Pakistan will play all their group-stage World Cup matches in Colombo, the January series holds particular strategic importance. Teams often place heavy emphasis on acclimatisation, especially for major ICC events, and Pakistan are no exception.
Pakistan’s T20I workload has been extremely high throughout 2025. Following the PSL in May, they have participated in a wide array of bilateral and multi-team assignments. They toured Bangladesh for a challenging away series, hosted a return leg at home, travelled to the West Indies, competed in two tri-series, played in the Asia Cup, and faced South Africa in a home series. This deliberate increase in match volume demonstrates the PCB’s intention to strengthen depth, test new combinations, and ensure readiness for the World Cup.
Despite the heavy schedule, Pakistan have enjoyed significant success, winning nearly every series except the Bangladesh away fixtures and the Asia Cup final, where they narrowly lost to India. Players like Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Iftikhar Ahmed, and emerging talents have taken advantage of the extensive T20I assignments to consolidate their positions.
Sri Lanka, the hosts for the January series, have also been active on the international circuit. They recently wrapped up a three-week tour of Pakistan, which included three ODIs and a tri-series with Zimbabwe. While Sri Lanka are considered a rebuilding side, they continue to show promise in the shorter formats, especially in home conditions, making them capable challengers.
Following the Sri Lanka tour, Pakistan will shift focus to their next assignment — a three-match T20I home series against Australia in late January. That contest will help finalise their World Cup squad and strategy. Once completed, Pakistan will travel back to Sri Lanka for the World Cup, starting on February 7.
In the upcoming T20 World Cup, Pakistan are drawn in Group A. Their fixtures will include high-profile clashes against India, as well as matches against Namibia, Netherlands, and the United States. The group stage will be played in Colombo, giving Pakistan another compelling incentive to make full use of their January trip to Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan management believes that early exposure to Sri Lankan conditions, followed by a strong home series against Australia, will sharpen the squad before one of cricket’s most anticipated global events.
