Lahore: India and Pakistan will clash in the Twenty20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday, still feeling the aftershocks of a tumultuous fortnight in which Pakistan’s boycott threat – later reversed – nearly blew a hole in the tournament’s marquee fixture. India’s strained relations with another neighbour, Bangladesh, have further tangled the geopolitics around the World Cup. India beat Pakistan three times in that single event, including a stormy final marred by provocative gestures and snubbed handshakes. Former India captain Rohit Sharma does not believe in the “favourites” tag, especially when the arch-rivals clash. “It’s such a funny game,” Rohit, who led India to the title in the T20 World Cup two years ago, recently said.

Source: The Patriot February 14, 2026 15:06 UTC