Pakistan will play its second match of the Super 8 against England on February 24 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Balagolla. Ahead of the match, former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has suggested the Pakistan team management to include Fakhar Zaman in their playing combination.
Subcontinent conditions often help spinners to be effective in matches. Today’s match in Balagola is expected to be no exception. England’s spinner Adil Rashid can play a decisive role against Pakistan.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s advice to Pakistan before Super 8 England match
Ravichandran Ashwin suggested the Men in Green to show confidence in experienced batsman Fakhar Zaman, who is yet to play his first match in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Ashwin decided to go with Zaman because of his technical abilities against the spinners. For example, the former cricketer mentioned the England vs Nepal match, which was held in the group stage.
On February 8, Nepal came very close to pulling off an upset at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Chasing the target of 185 runs, Nepal succeeded in scoring 180 runs. England may have won the match, but Nepal’s batsmen found a way to counter Adil Rashid. In this match, the experienced spinner bowled 3 overs and could not take any wicket, giving away 42 runs.
Why did Ashwin urge arch-rivals to play Fakhar Zaman against England?
Sharing a wagon wheel from the match, Ravichandran Ashwin asked the Salman Ali Aga-led side to keep Fakhar Zaman in their middle-order to counter Rashid. Nepal’s batsmen targeted the square part of the field to neutralize Adil Rashid. Zaman can play quite square by hitting some sweep shots. Ravichandran Ashwin asked Aga and his boys to take a closer look at England’s match against Nepal.
“If Pakistan are serious about this World Cup campaign, they need to think about giving Fakhar Zaman a chance in the middle order. He can sweep and use his legs against Rashid and Dawson to cause some serious damage in the middle overs,” Ashwin wrote in his ‘X’ post.
“This was Nepal’s formula for success against Rashid and there are some important lessons that other teams can try to adopt. Step into the square boundaries to get balls in the hit zone,” he said.
If Pakistan is serious about this World Cup campaign then it will have to think about giving a chance to Fakhar Zaman in the middle order.
He can sweep and use his legs against Rashid and Dawson to cause some serious damage in the middle overs.
This was the formula for Nepal’s successpic.twitter.com/QMAhQm2GZR
– Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) 24 February 2026
Liam Dawson has taken 6 wickets so far
Rashid will also be accompanied by another English spinner Liam Dawson against Pakistan. The 35-year-old Dawson has been in good form with the national team heading into the T20 World Cup 2026.
In 5 matches, he took 6 wickets, including two wickets each against Nepal, Scotland and Sri Lanka. Pakistani batsmen will have to deal with the opposition spinners to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
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