🏏 ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: PAK vs SL,Super 8🏏

🏏 ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026:

PAK vs SL, Super8 🏏

Big Picture: Will Pakistan abandon their conservative approach?

Pakistan's habitual desperate net-run-rate calculations towards the tail-end of a group stage have thrown up another classic. In what is a dead-rubber for already-eliminated hosts Sri Lanka, Pakistan have been given a faint shot at staying alive in the T20 World Cup, thanks to a surprise comeback win for England over New Zealand. New Zealand boast a vastly superior net run rate (1.390) to Pakistan's (-0.461), so for Salman Agha's men to progress to the semi-finals, they must win on Saturday by around 64 runs, or chase any Sri Lankan target in about 13.1 overs. Those, for Pakistan, are the only numbers that matter in Pallekele.

That should, in theory, change the somewhat conservative approach they have taken through the middle overs. Frankly put, Babar Azam's place in this T20I set-up was getting hard enough to argue for in regular T20I circumstances, but within these constraints is borderline unjustifiable. He, however, is not the only player whose strike-rate ceiling is limited, with captain Salman Agha similarly struggling this tournament, and indeed over the broader span of his T20I career.

However, Pakistan are yet to show any evidence of an ability to rack up a win of that sort of scale at this tournament so far. Indeed, Pakistan have never won by that margin against a Full Member at a T20 World Cup when batting first, and only once - in 2009 - when chasing. The slower surfaces of Sri Lanka compared to the flatter pitches in India make a path to such a victory more complicated, as does a Pakistani middle order that doesn't boast elite power hitting, and Saim Ayub's faltering form. But it's a chance nonetheless, and at ICC events, sometimes that's all Pakistan ask for.

There's little other than pride at stake for Sri Lanka, whose tournament started with such promise, only to peak and fall away after a glorious win over Australia. They have lost their last three matches, and were the first side to be knocked out in the Super Eight. Pakistan's qualification scenarios mean little to them, and they'll want to demonstrate they are more than foil for Pakistani glory, or a roadblock to their progression.

The story, though, is of what Pakistan can possibly achieve, and whether they can thwart New Zealand's progress to yet another ICC tournament semi-final.

In the spotlight: Dunith Wellalage and Salman Agha

A lot of Sri Lankan players will invariably be moved on after this T20 World Cup, but one who is set to form the core of the side for the next generation is Dunith Wellalage. The 23-year old left arm spinner's competitive attitude makes him one of a short list of Sri Lankan players to have come out of this tournament with his reputation bolstered, and he has an ever-improving skillset to go with it. He is yet to play a T20I against Pakistan, having missed their Asia Cup clash, flying home for a family bereavement. But with a surfeit of right-hand batters in Pakistan's top order, he could find himself deployed early on as he was against New Zealand, perhaps to nip Sahibzada Farhan in the bud at the outset.

Salman Agha should perhaps be under more scrutiny than he is, having endured an indifferent tournament with the bat and an uninspiring one as captain. The questions swirling around his fitness for the format will only intensify after he let games drift with the ball against India and England, while his attempted aggression with the bat at No. 3 continues to feel feigned rather than organic. He has scored 60 runs in five innings at this tournament, 38 in one innings against Namibia. If Pakistan exit tamely, it is hard to envision him hanging on to the armband, and perhaps even his role in the side. However, Saturday perhaps represents one final chance for him to take control of his destiny.

Team news

Sri Lanka faced plenty of criticism for their meek capitulation against New Zealand, but as the tournament closes out, wholesale changes are not likely. Kusal Mendis suffered hamstring stiffness against New Zealand and is unlikely to play, with Kamil Mishara returning as wicketkeeper-batter.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kamil Mishara (wk), 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Pavan Rathnayake, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Dushan Hemantha, 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Dilshan Madushanka

Shaheen Afridi's performance against England makes it likely he will keep his spot. If Pakistan are to stick to two specialist seamers on this surface, it makes it a straight shootout between Naseem Shah and Salman Mirza. What's less certain is how the equation changes Pakistan's batting line-up. So far, they have been reluctant to drop Babar Azam, or play Khawaja Nafay. Any caution needs to go out of the window as they battle to stay alive.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Salman Agha (capt), 4 Babar Azam/Khawaja Nafay, 5 Fakhar Zaman, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Usman Khan (wk), 8 Mohammad Nawaz/Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Salman Mirza/Naseem Shah, 11 Usman Tariq

Pitch and conditions

The same pitch where England played Pakistanwill be used for this clash in Pallekele. That surface saw increased assistance for pace bowling with a hint of early movement. It's been a dry week in Kandy, which is set to extend into the weekend.

Stats and trivia

• This game will be Salman Agha's 50th in charge of Pakistan. He is only the second Pakistani captain to reach that mark after Babar Azam, who led his country 85 times in this format.

• In eight innings against Pakistan, Pathum Nissanka has scored 119 runs in 117 balls, his lowest strike rate (101.70) and average (17) against any Full Member team.

• Sri Lanka and Pakistan have not played at a T20 World Cup match since the semi-final in 2012 in Colombo, which Sri Lanka won. The sides have split four meetings down the middle, which included Pakistan's 2009 T20 World Cup final win over Sri Lanka.

Co-hosts Sri Lanka return to Pallekele with their World Cup already over. Pakistan, who have been in Pallekele for a while, remain alive thanks to England's win over New Zealand and now need a clinical win to secure progression. The contest on Saturday is between two struggling batting sides: one keen to salvage some pride and perhaps search for direction going forward, and the other in search of an elusive higher gear.

So how can Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals? If they bat first, they need to win by a margin of 64 runs or more should they score 160. If they are in pursuit of 161, they need to get those runs with 40 or more deliveries to spare. It is not that the feat is unachievable - Pakistan have recorded a 102-run win in this competition - but that came against Namibia, and the stage now is much bigger.

Meanwhile, conditions in Pallekele are expected to keep spin firmly in the conversation. Among the eight venues used in the competition, the ground has produced the second-highest average turn for spinners, along with the best average and strike rate. That dynamic places renewed focus on two batting groups that have not always been fluent against slower bowling in recent times.

Pakistan's tournament has drifted in patches rather than collapsed outright. A washout to begin the Super Eights left them chasing ground, and their batting has struggled to string together collective returns. Sahibzada Farhan has provided much of the momentum at the top, but the rest of the batting order has struggled for runs and will have to step up considerably, especially with their semi-final equation hinging on both margin and tempo.

Sri Lanka have also had familiar issues of their own. Their campaign never quite found lift, particularly with the bat, and the exit from the competition only confirmed a slide that had been threatening for a while. The over-dependence on Pathum Nissanka for runs, the lack of firepower from Kusal Mendis, and a wobbly middle order have combined to drive that slide, with the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana also felt. Sri Lanka have still been good with the ball at different stages in the Super Eights without quite driving home the advantage, but their batting has consistently left them short of control in games. A more collective performance will be high on their agenda as they look to offer some respite to a disappointed fan base.

What to expect: The surfaces here have consistently offered grip for slower bowlers, and spin is expected to play a major role again. Run-scoring has tended to slow through the middle overs, making partnerships and phase management critical.

Head to head: Pakistan lead 17-12 in T20Is against Sri Lanka and hold a 4-2 advantage in matches played since 2025.

Sri Lanka

Kusal Mendis, who was struggling with his hamstring in the match against New Zealand, is set to miss the match against Pakistan. Kamil Mishara, who is a wicketkeeping option for Sri Lanka, is likely to replace Mendis.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka

Pakistan

Naseem Shah, who is yet to get a game, could come in for Mohammad Nawaz. Alternatively, Abrar Ahmed could be brought in.

Probable XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah/Abrar Ahmed, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq

Did you know?

- Sri Lanka have a strike rate of 112.97 against spin post the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, the lowest among full-member teams in this period. Pakistan's SR of 123.08 is the fourth lowest.

- Nine players have an SR below 125 in the aforementioned period (Min. 250 balls faced). Four of them are from Pakistan (Usman Khan, Babar Azam, Salman Agha and Fakhar Zaman) and two are from Sri Lanka (Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka).

Thank you, Parm, for the thread and for tagging.

Let the best playing team win this game!!

New Zealand boasts a vastly superior net run rate (1.390) over Pakistan's (-0.461). If Salman Agha's men are to progress to the semi-finals, they must win today by around 64 runs, or chase the Sri Lankan target within 13.1 overs. These are the only numbers that matter today in Pallekele.

Pak so far have 1 point in 2 games and if they beat Sri Lanka, they will have a tie with NZ with 3 points from 2 matches so far.

Pakistan lives to fight another day at the T20 World Cup 2026. And they must thank England for that. In a high-stakes game, on which depended Pakistan's hopes of staying in the race for T20 World Cup semi-finals, England defeated New Zealand by four wickets at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Friday. While the Three Lions had already qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament, their win over the Blackcaps has given Pakistan big hope. As a result, Salman Agha and Co. are still in contention for the second remaining semi-final position from Super 8 Group 2. Given Sri Lanka was already eliminated from the tournament, the match between England and New Zealand concerned only for Pakistan.