Ireland vs Pakistan Warm-Up Match Abandoned Due to Rain in Colombo

On February 4, 2026, the much-anticipated warm-up match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup between Ireland and Pakistan, scheduled at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo, was cancelled due to incessant rainfall.

The weather deteriorated at the beginning of the day, and it continued to rain without allowing the officials to conduct the toss. As a result, the pitch could not be prepared by the ground staff, and the day-night match was eventually cancelled.

Ireland, under the captaincy of Paul Stirling, had a well-balanced squad featuring experienced players such as George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, Josh Little, and wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker. The warm-up was meant to provide Ireland with a final opportunity to test their team balance before the main competition.

Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, also named a strong lineup for the fixture. The squad included senior batters Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, alongside a potent bowling attack featuring Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, and Shadab Khan. The abandoned match meant Pakistan missed a chance to fine-tune their strategies and combinations under match conditions.

With no play possible, both teams will now rely on internal training sessions and previous warm-up performances as they turn their attention to the upcoming tournament matches. 

The Ireland vs Pakistan warm-up washout serves as a reminder of the unpredictable conditions in Colombo, as teams prepare to begin their T20 World Cup campaigns.