The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off with a high-stakes encounter as Pakistan faces the Netherlands in their Group A opener.
This match is crucial for both sides to set the tone for the tournament. Below is everything you need to know about the schedule, venue, and live-streaming options.
Match Schedule & Venue
- Match: Pakistan vs Netherlands (Group A)
- Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Cricket Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Time: 10:30 AM (PKT) | 11:00 AM (Local/IST) | 05:30 AM (GMT)
Global Broadcasters & Live Streaming Platforms
Fans worldwide can tune in to the action through the following official broadcasters:
1. Pakistan
- TV Channels: PTV Home, PTV National, and Myco.
- Digital Streaming: Tamasha App, Tapmad, and ARY Zapp.
- Bonus: A dedicated Urdu commentary feed will be available on PTV and digital partners for all Pakistan matches.
2. India & South Asia
- TV Channels: Star Sports Network (Broadcast in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada).
- Digital Streaming: JioHotstar app and website.
3. United Kingdom & Ireland
- TV Channels: Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event.
- Digital Streaming: Sky Go and NOW.
4. USA & Canada
- TV Channels: Willow TV.
- Digital Streaming: Willow by Cricbuzz and ESPN+.
- Free Access: All Team USA matches (and select opening games) are often available for free on Willow’s YouTube channel.
5. Rest of the World
- Australia: Prime Video.
- MENA Region: CricLife Max (TV) and StarzPlay (Digital).
- Global Access: In regions without a local broadcaster, fans can watch the match live for FREE on ICC.tv.
Expected Playing XI
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (C), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (WK), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed.
Netherlands: Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Scott Edwards (C/WK), Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten, Paul van Meekeren, Aryan Dutt, and Kyle Klein.
Pitch & Weather Conditions
The Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo is known for assisting spin bowlers as the game progresses. While the average first-innings score has hovered around 155, early morning moisture might help the seamers. The weather forecast predicts a few clouds but a full match is expected without major rain interruptions.
