T20 World Cup 2026: Sourav Ganguly backs India ahead of Pakistan clash

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In the T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan withdrew its boycott of the India clash. Earlier, they had decided not to take the field against the arch-rivals, India. The decision was taken in support of Bangladesh, after they were pushed out of the tournament for their refusal to play matches in India.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, according to a statement by the Pakistan Government, briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the outcomes of high-level talks between the PCB, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The much-anticipated T20 World Cup 2026 between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, is scheduled to be played on February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.

Ahead of the clash, former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly has backed his national team by saying it is not going to be easy for the “Green Shirts”.

“It will be a big World Cup match. The match is on 15th February, it is not going to be easy for Pakistan to defeat India. India is a very good team,” he said. So far, both teams have managed to secure victories in their tournament-opening matches and will look to continue on the momentum.

The former cricketer then named his favourite players from Team India and also stated that all the teams so far have displayed good game.

“The tournament has started really well. So far, it doesn`t look that any team is out of place be it Netherlands, Scotland or Nepal. In the Indian team, Abhishek Sharma, Bumrah, Surya, and Ishan Kishan are my favourites,” said Ganguly.

T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs PAK: Full Squads

India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma.

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (C), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan (WK), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Khawaja Nafay (WK), Usman Tariq.

(With ANI Inputs)

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