Pak Warm Up Matches: Pakistan’s Complete Guide
What warm-up matches are, how they work, Pakistan’s latest fixtures and results, and how to follow every practice game before the big tournaments.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
men’s T20 WC warm-ups, Feb 2026
Pakistan men’s warm-up: vs Ireland
women’s T20 WC warm-ups, Jun 2026
Pakistan women’s warm-ups
official status: practice only
Pak vs Ire, SSC Colombo
The Basics
What warm-up matches are
Before every ICC global tournament, teams play official practice fixtures — the “warm-ups”.
Practice, not points
Warm-ups carry no official international status. A T20 warm-up is not a T20I; runs and wickets don’t enter official records, and results don’t affect rankings.
Full squads, flexible rules
Teams can rotate freely — all 15 squad members may bat or bowl by agreement between the sides. It’s about combinations, conditions and confidence, not the result.
Settling into conditions
Played at or near tournament venues, warm-ups let teams adjust to pitches, weather and time zones — Pakistan’s 2026 warm-up was deliberately staged at the ground hosting its first two group games.
Latest Verified
Latest: Pakistan’s 2026 warm-up fixtures
| Fixture | Date | Venue | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan vs Ireland | 4 February 2026, 5pm local | SSC Ground, Colombo | Men’s T20 World Cup (7 Feb – 8 Mar, India & Sri Lanka) |
| Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | 6 June 2026 | Derby | Women’s T20 World Cup (12 Jun – 5 Jul, England) |
| Pakistan vs Scotland | 9 June 2026 | Derby | Women’s T20 World Cup |
Pakistan’s men played a single warm-up before the 2026 T20 World Cup — against Ireland at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, the same venue that hosted their group games against the Netherlands (7 Feb) and the USA (10 Feb). Under the ICC’s hosting arrangement, Pakistan played all its tournament matches in Sri Lanka. The women’s team played two warm-ups in Derby before their World Cup in England.
Full Fixture List
T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up schedule
The ICC staged 16 warm-up fixtures between 2 and 6 February 2026 across Bengaluru, Navi Mumbai, Chennai and Colombo.
| Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb | Afghanistan vs Scotland | Bengaluru |
| 2 Feb | India A vs USA | Navi Mumbai |
| 2 Feb | Canada vs Italy | Chennai |
| 3 Feb | Oman vs Sri Lanka A | Colombo |
| 3 Feb | Netherlands vs Zimbabwe | Colombo |
| 3 Feb | Nepal vs UAE | Chennai |
| 4 Feb | Scotland vs Namibia | Bengaluru |
| 4 Feb | Afghanistan vs West Indies | Bengaluru |
| 4 Feb | Pakistan vs Ireland | Colombo (SSC) |
| 4 Feb | India vs South Africa | Navi Mumbai |
| 5 Feb | Zimbabwe vs Oman | Colombo |
| 5 Feb | Nepal vs Canada | Chennai |
| 5 Feb | Australia vs Netherlands | Colombo |
| 5 Feb | New Zealand vs USA | Navi Mumbai |
| 6 Feb | Italy vs UAE | Chennai |
| 6 Feb | India A vs Namibia | Bengaluru |
Notable: Australia, England and New Zealand opted out of warm-ups entirely ahead of the 2026 tournament, preferring bilateral series instead.
How They Work
How warm-up matches work
No official status
Warm-ups are not T20Is or ODIs, even when played between full national sides at international venues. Performances don’t count toward career statistics or ICC rankings — which is why teams experiment freely.
Squad rotation
By mutual agreement, teams may use more than 11 players — commonly all 15 squad members get a run. Captains often split the game: one group bats, another bowls, fringe players get their audition.
Broadcast and tickets
Coverage varies: some warm-ups are televised and ticketed like full internationals, others are closed-door training-style games with only score updates. The ICC confirmed broadcast details for the 2026 fixtures in advance.
What coaches look for
Form of key players, the right XI combination, how the pitch behaves under lights, death-bowling options, and who handles pressure — warm-ups are dress rehearsals, and selections for the tournament opener are often settled in them.
Never Miss One
How to follow warm-up matches
Broadcast
The ICC announces broadcast partners for each tournament’s warm-ups — in Pakistan, check the sports channels carrying the tournament (PTV Sports, A-Sports, Geo Super have shared recent rights).
Live scores
Ball-by-ball coverage runs on the ICC’s official platforms and major score apps even when there’s no TV broadcast — warm-up scorecards appear alongside full internationals.
Reports & analysis
Our Pakistan sports desk covers every Pakistan warm-up with reports and talking points — form, selections and what it means for the tournament.
History
Pakistan’s warm-up history
Two warm-ups in the UAE
Pakistan played the West Indies (18 Oct, Dubai) and South Africa (20 Oct, Abu Dhabi) before the 2021 T20 World Cup — then famously beat India in the tournament opener.
One warm-up: Ireland
A single fixture — Pakistan vs Ireland, 4 Feb at the SSC Ground in Colombo — before the 2026 edition in India and Sri Lanka.
Two warm-ups in Derby
The women’s team faced Sri Lanka (6 Jun) and Scotland (9 Jun) in Derby before the World Cup in England (12 Jun – 5 Jul).
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What are warm-up matches in cricket?
When is Pakistan’s next warm-up match?
Do warm-up match results count?
Why did Pakistan play only one warm-up before the 2026 T20 World Cup?
Where can I watch Pakistan’s warm-up matches?
Are warm-up matches played with 11 players?
More Pakistan cricket
Schedules, squads and analysis — dive into our Pakistan sports coverage.
Fixtures verified against ICC announcements and Pakistani sports broadcasters (Geo Super, A-Sports, The News). Warm-up schedules change between tournaments — check the latest ICC release before travelling to a game.