Tag: Pakistan

KANDY: Sri Lanka have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Pakistan in the crucial Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. 

Playing XIs

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

Head to Head

Both teams have met 29 times in T20Is, with the Green Shirts winning 17 games, whereas the Islanders have managed to win 12.

In the T20 World Cups, the two teams have met four times, with each team winning two games.

READ: Pakistan set for bold changes in Playing XI for must-win Sri Lanka clash

KANDY: Pakistan are poised to ring in sweeping changes in the Playing XI for their decisive Super Eight fixture against Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

With their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread, the team management is expected to reshuffle the playing XI in a bid to engineer the massive victory required to stay alive in the tournament.

Fast bowler Mohammad Salman Mirza is likely to make way for spinner Abrar Ahmed, who has not featured since the group-stage matches against the Netherlands, USA and India.

Young batter Khawaja Nafay is also tipped to return for the high-stakes encounter and could replace all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz in the XI.

There is further speculation that senior batter Babar Azam may be rested, while pace all-rounder Faheem Ashraf is in contention for inclusion.

While Sri Lanka have already been knocked out of the competition, Pakistan enter the contest under immense pressure.

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The Green Shirts sit third in Super Eight Group 2 with just one point from two matches and a net run rate (NRR) of -0.461.

To qualify for the semi-finals, Pakistan must not only beat Sri Lanka but do so convincingly.

With New Zealand holding a superior NRR of 1.390, Pakistan need a win by roughly 65 runs or chase down a target within 13 overs to leapfrog the Black Caps.

England’s recent victory over New Zealand has kept Pakistan’s campaign alive, but their fate now rests entirely in their own hands.

Anything short of the required margin will see New Zealand join England in progressing to the semi-finals from Group 2.

Pakistan’s likely playing XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq.

READ: Kandy weather update ahead of Pakistan-Sri Lanka Super Eight clash

KANDY: Pakistan’s do-or-die Super Eight clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to unfold under clear skies at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, with weather unlikely to disrupt proceedings.

As of 7 PM local time, conditions in Kandy are expected to be ideal for cricket.

The temperature will hover around 25°C, with a matching RealFeel, while a gentle north-westerly breeze at 6 km/h, gusting up to 13 km/h, should offer slight relief from the humidity.

Humidity levels stand at 62%, accompanied by a dew point of 18°C, creating a mildly muggy atmosphere.

However, cloud cover is almost non-existent at just 2%, visibility stretches to eight kilometres, and the cloud ceiling is positioned high at 9,100 metres.

With the AccuLumen Brightness Index reading zero, the encounter will be played entirely under floodlights.

While air quality has been flagged as unhealthy for sensitive individuals, playing conditions themselves appear well-suited for an uninterrupted contest.

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For Sri Lanka, the fixture carries little more than pride, having already been eliminated from the tournament. For Pakistan, however, the stakes could not be higher.

The Green Shirts sit third in Super Eight Group 2 with just one point from two matches and a net run rate (NRR) of -0.461. Their semi-final ambitions hinge not only on victory but on the scale of it.

With New Zealand currently boasting a superior NRR of 1.390, Pakistan require a commanding win to leapfrog the Black Caps in the standings.

Calculations suggest they must defeat Sri Lanka by approximately 65 runs, or chase down a target within 13 overs, to overhaul New Zealand’s net run rate.

England’s recent win over New Zealand has kept Pakistan’s hopes flickering, but their fate now rests entirely in their own hands.

Anything less than the required margin would see New Zealand advance alongside England to the semi-finals from Group 2.

READ: Shahid Afridi names Agha’s replacement for Pakistan captaincy

COLOMBO: England’s dramatic four-wicket win over New Zealand by four wickets in the Group 2 Super Eight fixture has kept Pakistan alive in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Before heading into the fixture, Pakistan needed an England win over New Zealand to remain in contention for the semi-final.

England chased down a stiff 160-run target on the third ball of the final over, with Will Jacks hitting a boundary behind fine leg to seal the victory.

New Zealand were in command when Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed joined hands in the 17th over, with the Three Lions requiring 43 from 18 balls. However, a 22 run over from Glenn Phillips turned the game on its head.

The next over unfolded in a similar manner as Rehan struck boundaries off the first and final deliveries to collect 16 runs. That left England needing just five runs in the final over.

Will Jacks, who remained unbeaten on 32 from 18, was awarded Player of the Match for his all-round contribution.

With this win, England denied New Zealand a direct chance of reaching the semi-finals, leaving their fate dependent on the Sri Lanka- Pakistan clash.

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For Pakistan to advance to the semis, they need to beat Sri Lanka by approximately 65 runs or chase the target in about 13 overs.

However, this remains an estimate, with the exact qualification scenario to be confirmed after the conclusion of the first innings.

The first semi-final will be played in Colombo if Pakistan manage to win, according to the required equation.

But a defeat would mean the first semi-final will be staged in Kolkata — unless South Africa lose to Zimbabwe and India somehow top Group 1.

READ: Salman wary of ‘critical situation’ before Sri Lanka clash

COLOMBO: New Zealand’s 61-run thrashing of Sri Lanka has left Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 hanging by a thread.

The Black Caps completely outplayed hosts Sri Lanka, knocking them out of the tournament.

Put into bat first, New Zealand managed to score 168-7 in 20 overs, largely due to Mitchell Santner’s gutsy knock of 47 runs.

In reply, Sri Lanka could only manage 107-8 at the end of their innings.

Rachin Ravindra earned the player of the match award for his outstanding all-round performance. The southpaw scored a vital 32 runs from 22 balls with the aid of a six and three fours.

With a 61-run win, New Zealand received a significant Net Run Rate boost and now sit in second position with an NRR of 3.050.

What does Pakistan need to do?

For Pakistan, the equation is no longer as simple as it was before New Zealand and Sri Lanka clash.

Pakistan currently has an NRR of -0.464. The Green Shirts not only need to beat Sri Lanka by a hefty 70-run margin, but must also rely on the result of the England-New Zealand match.

According to statistician Mazher Arshad, if England beat New Zealand by 20 runs, Pakistan would need to defeat Sri Lanka by 50 runs to qualify for the semi-finals.

If the game between New Zealand and England is abandoned due to rain, the Black Caps will qualify.

READ: T20 World Cup: New Zealand knock Sri Lanka out with NRR boost

KANDY: Pakistan’s road to the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has become increasingly narrow after a heartbreaking two-wicket defeat against England in their Super Eight fixture.

The loss has left Pakistan with just one point from two matches in Super Eight Group 2, courtesy of their washed-out encounter against New Zealand.

While their campaign now hangs in the balance, mathematical chances of qualification remain alive, albeit dependent on other results.

England, meanwhile, have already punched their ticket to the semi-finals after registering back-to-back wins, sitting comfortably on four points at the top of the group.

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For Pakistan, the equation is straightforward at first glance: they must defeat Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight fixture. A loss would officially end their campaign.

However, even victory alone may not be enough.

Pakistan currently have a net run rate (NRR) of -0.461, which could prove decisive if teams finish level on points.

Sri Lanka, placed at the bottom of the group with no points and an NRR of -2.550, still have two matches to play, against New Zealand and Pakistan, and could influence the final standings significantly.

Scenario 1

Pakistan’s simplest path to the semi-finals requires them to beat Sri Lanka and hope New Zealand lose both of their remaining matches against Sri Lanka and England.

In that case, Pakistan would finish with three points and advance to the semi-finals.

Scenario 2

If New Zealand manage to win one of their remaining two games, Pakistan would still need to defeat Sri Lanka, but with a substantial margin to improve their NRR and edge past the Black Caps in the standings.

Should New Zealand win both of their remaining fixtures, Pakistan will be eliminated regardless of their own result.

READ: Shadab Khan achieves major T20I milestone against England

KANDY: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opened up after a narrow loss against England in the Super Eight clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan set England a challenging 165 here under lights at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

However, England skipper Harry Brook made the target look easy with his sublime century.

The right-hander made 100 off 51 balls, striking four sixes and 10 boundaries.

Speaking after the match, Agha highlighted the shortcomings and praised Brook for his brilliance with the bat.

“Started well with the bat, but couldn’t finish the way we wanted to. But some days you have to give credit to other batters. I think Harry batted brilliantly,” he said in the post-match presentation.

“Our score was a bit short. And then Brook took the game away from us. We threw everything at him,” he continued.

Pakistan captain, the leading run scorer of the tournament, Sahibzada Farha’s performance, noting that the other batters could not step up to the occasion.

“I think he’s batted very well throughout the World Cup. Other batters haven’t played the way we wanted to, but it can happen like that in World Cups, the skipper maintained.

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For Pakistan, it was returning Shaheen Afridi who impressed with the ball, picking up a four-wicket haul.

“He bowled really well today.  He’s famous for early wickets, and he did that today,” Salman Ali Agha said of Shaheen.

He concluded by saying that England played Pakistan bowling really well, particularly their nemesis, Brook, who took the game away from them.

“Whenever we play against England and lose, it’s always him [Harry Brook] have to say hats off to him and the way he batted today.”

“Very challenging, the way he batted. He can play all around the ground so it can get challenging.”

“The way Nawaz bowled the 19th over, I thought maybe, you never know. Even if there’s a 1% chance, my team will go for it,” he concluded.

READ: Brook hits ton as England qualify for T20 World Cup semis

KANDY: Skipper Harry Brook’s sublime century powered sloppy England to a two-wicket win over Pakistan in the Super Eight clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Set a stiff 165, England chipped away towards the target despite a stutter in the last over, losing eight wickets in the process.

With this win, England qualified for the T20 World Cup semi-final.

England were off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets inside the first five overs. Shaheen Afridi sent back Phil Salt for a duck in the first over. Soon after, Jos Buttler also fell, whose horror run continued in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell fell prey to Shaheen Afridi on eight despite providing relief in the previous over.

The wicket-keeper only managed two from three balls. As a result, England were reduced to 35-3 in 4.5 overs.

With the side in early trouble, Harry Brook launched a rescue act for the ages, holding the innings together with a string of partnerships alongside the middle-order.

Despite the wickets tumbling around him, Brook made the chase look easy with elegant stroke play.

Brook shepherd the chase with measured stands alongside Tom Banton and Sam Curran, adding 23 and 45 runs respectively.

He later found crucial support from Will Jacks, the pair putting on 52 for the sixth wicket to wrest control from Pakistan.

Afridi returned to end Brook’s innings on the final ball of the 17th over, but England held their nerve.

Jacks fell for 28 to Mohammad Nawaz, who also had Jamie Overton stumped in the same over to set up a tense finish.

Needing three from the final over with two wickets in hand, Jofra Archer struck Salman Mirza for a boundary off the first ball to clinch victory.

Afridi was Pakistan’s standout bowler with 4-30, while Usman Tariq Nawaz claimed two wickets.

Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan’s gutsy half-century lifted Pakistan to a fighting total against England.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan managed to score 164-9 in their 20 overs.

Pakistan were jolted with an early blow in the shape of Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha’s dismissal.

Saim was caught at short mid-wicket in a bid to pull Jofra Archer. He only made seven. While skipper Salman fell cheaply to Liam Dawson after managing five.

As a result, the Green Shirts were pegged back with two down for 27 in 3.3 overs.

Following the hiccup, Babar Azam and Sahizada Farhan held the innings together with a 46-run stand. The pair stabilized the innings and brought the scorecard to 73 in 10.5 overs.

Jamie Overton ended the threatening stand with Babar’s wicket, who chopped on after a cautious knock of 25 from 24 with the aid of two fours.

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Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan continued and struck a partnership with Rusty Fakhar Zaman after chewing up a few deliveries.

Both added 49 off 30 balls for the fourth wicket partnership, bringing the total to 112 in 15.4 overs.

Farhan, who was going well, was trapped lbw after hitting a six and a four to Overton. He made 63 off 45, including two sixes and seven fours.

Following his wicket, England got hold of the Pakistan innings with a few quick wickets. As a result, they slumped to 132-5 149-8 in 18.3 overs.

Shadab Khan played a vital knock of 23 from 11 with the aid of four boundaries to take Pakistan’s score to 164.

For England, Liam Dawson picked up three wickets in his four overs.

READ: Santner ready for spin test with eye on Pakistan-England clash

KANDY: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bat first against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight clash here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Pakistan have made one change to their side as fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who was left out of the XI against New Zealand, has returned, replacing all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.

Playing XIs

England: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Tom Banton, 5 Harry Brook (capt), 6 Sam Curran, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Liam Dawson, 9 Jamie Overton, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Adil Rashid

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

Head to Head 

England and Pakistan have played 31 T20Is against each other, with the Three Lions leading by 21 games, while Pakistan have won only 9.

In the T20 World Cup, England remain unbeaten against Pakistan, having won all three matches.

Matches: 31, ENG 21, PAK 9, NR: 1

READ: Pakistan-India clash confirmed as ICC unveils Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule

DUBAI: The marquee clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India has been locked in for June 14 after the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the complete schedule for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be staged in England from June 12 to July 5.

The 10th edition of the tournament will feature 12 teams and 33 matches spread across seven venues, culminating in the final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 5.

Hosts England will kick off proceedings against Sri Lanka on June 12 at Edgbaston, which will also stage the high-voltage India-Pakistan encounter two days later.

Pakistan have been drawn in a challenging Group A alongside defending champions Australia, India, South Africa, Bangladesh and tournament debutants the Netherlands.

The Dutch side qualified through the global qualifier in Nepal and will begin their campaign against Bangladesh, who went unbeaten in that event.

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Group B comprises England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Ireland and Scotland.

Ireland and Scotland were among the four teams, along with Bangladesh and the Netherlands, to secure their spots via the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for June 30 and July 2 at The Oval. The grand finale will then be played at Lord’s, adding further prestige to the tournament climax.

Pakistan women’s team will open their campaign against India on June 14 at Edgbaston in what promises to be one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage.

They will then face South Africa (June 17), Bangladesh (June 20), Australia (June 23) and the Netherlands (June 27).

Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule

June 12: England v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

June 13: Scotland v Ireland, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

June 13: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

June 13: West Indies v New Zealand, Hampshire Bowl

June 14: Bangladesh v Netherlands, Edgbaston

June 14: India v Pakistan, Edgbaston

June 16: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Hampshire Bowl

June 16: England v Ireland, Hampshire Bowl

June 17: Australia v Bangladesh, Headingley

June 17: India v Netherlands, Headingley

June 17: South Africa v Pakistan, Edgbaston

June 18: West Indies v Scotland, Headingley

June 19: New Zealand v Ireland, Hampshire Bowl

June 20: Australia v Netherlands, Hampshire Bowl

June 20: Pakistan v Bangladesh, Hampshire Bowl

June 20: England v Scotland, Headingley

June 21: West Indies v Sri Lanka, Bristol County Ground

June 21: South Africa v India, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

June 23: New Zealand v Scotland, Bristol County Ground

June 23: Sri Lanka v Ireland, Bristol County Ground

June 23: Australia v Pakistan, Headingley

June 24: England v West Indies, Lord’s

June 25: India v Bangladesh, Old Trafford

June 25: South Africa v Netherlands, Bristol

June 26: Sri Lanka v Scotland, Old Trafford

June 27: Pakistan v Netherlands, Bristol

June 27: West Indies v Ireland, Bristol

June 27: England v New Zealand, The Oval

June 28: South Africa v Bangladesh, Lord’s

June 28: Australia v India, Lord’s

June 30: TBC v TBC (Semi Final 1), The Oval

July 2: TBC v TBC (Semi Final 2), The Oval

July 5: TBC v TBC (The Final), Lord’s

READ: Kandy weather update ahead of Pakistan-England Super Eight clash