super 8 stage of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Heading into a high-stakes encounter in Pallekele. This is a do or die mission for Pakistan. After the defeat against New Zealand and a shock defeat to England, salman ali agaThe players of the team are hanging on to their hopes of the semi-finals by a thread. They need a solid win here and a favorable result in the final group matches to stay alive.
Co-hosts Sri Lanka find themselves in a different boat. Already eliminated in the Super 8 after consecutive defeats to England and New Zealand, Dasun Shanaka‘s side is playing for glory. However, there is no greater motivation than playing spoiler on home soil and finishing the home World Cup with a resounding win against a historic opponent.
PAK vs SL, T20 World Cup 2026: Match Details
- date and time: 28 February (Friday); 7:00 PM IST / 1:30 PM GMT / 6:30 PM local
- venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
PAK vs SL, head-to-head record in T20I
Matches played: 29 | Pakistan won: 17 | Sri Lanka won: 12 | No result/tied: 0
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is likely to offer a well-balanced T20 contest, with the opening conditions suitable for aggressive stroke play. The surface generally has a solid base and consistent bounce, allowing batsmen to take advantage of it during the powerplay, before it gradually loses pace and becomes slightly sticky. As the game progresses, spinners and bowlers relying on variations must hold out more, making smart rotation in the middle overs important. With evening humidity hovering around 80% and relatively cool weather, there could be some early assistance for swing bowlers, while forecasted rain could leave the outfield a little heavy. Traditionally, totals between 165-170 have proven competitive at this venue.
Squad:
Pakistan: Salman Ali Aga (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafe, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saeem Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
Sri Lanka: Pathum NissankaKusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pawan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Dunith Velanage, Dushan Hemantha, Mahesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Dushmantha Chameera, Charith Asalanka, Zenith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara.
See also: Super 8 clash in Pallekele turns ugly as England and Pakistan fans clash
PAK vs SL, T20 World Cup 2026: Today Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Pakistan won the toss and batted first
- Pakistan’s powerplay score: 45-55 (6 overs)
- Pakistan’s total score: 160-175
Case 2:
- Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first
- Sri Lanka’s powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
- Sri Lanka’s total score: 180-190
Match Result: The team batting first wins the competition.
Also read: Kumar Sangakkara criticizes Sri Lankan team management for early exit from T20 World Cup 2026
