Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium will host Sri Lanka’s opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, February 8. The Lankan Lions, led by their senior all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, are set to face off against Ireland in their first outing in Group B of the biannual competition. Sri Lanka will be mindful of Ireland’s giant-slaying qualities and be wary of how costly any hiccup can be in a group of five teams, also including Australia, Zimbabwe and Oman, from where only two qualify for the Super 8s stage.
Despite playing at home, Shanaka’s men were dealt a major jolt and a hammering at the hands of England in their recent series. The scoreline of 0-3 versus the touring Englishmen would’ve been a cause of great stress and worry for the team
management headed by coach Sanath Jayasuriya. The fixture against Ireland is thus an opportunity to make a fresh start for the Lankans, who carry a nice mix of youth and experience within their undoubtedly talented ranks.
Presence of talented batters like Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka and bowlers of the capabilities of Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana does make you scratch your head over the inconsistencies in their performances, but these promising cricketers establish Sri Lanka as a dark horse of the competition, who would certainly start as favourites against the Irishmen.
Playing in conditions that couldn’t have been more foreign to the ones they’re used to playing back home, the Irish will rely quite heavily on the likes of Paul Stirling, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Harry Tector and Craig Young.
Colombo Weather Forecast
The good thing is that there is no real rain threat hovering over the Pakistan-Ireland fixture. The forecast is for minimal chances of showers during the match hours, with the fixture starting at 7 PM local time. The temperatures are predicted to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius in the night fixture, with humidity nudging close to 80 per cent and a wind flowing around 11-12 km/hour.
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