England and Pakistan will face each other in 45th T20 World Cup 2026 match going on in Pallekele. This article covers England vs Pak Match No. 45 preview, including pitch report, weather forecast, head-to-head records, probable playing XI and live streaming details.
It is a high-pressure game where both teams cannot afford to lose. England will have to defeat Pakistan to remain strong in the race for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals. England will attack with aggressive batting, while Pakistan will rely on their spin bowling to outclass each other in Pallekele.
England vs Pak Match 45 Super 8 Group 2: Preview
Match Details:
Match date: 45th The match of T20 World Cup 2026 will be played on Tuesday 24 February 2026.
venue: The match will be held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele.
Time: This Super 8 match is going to start at 7:00 pm Indian time.
England vs Pak teams:
England team: Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethel, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Philip Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Aga (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafe, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq, Salman Mirza.
Also read: South Africa’s ‘unfair advantage’ in T20 World Cup 2026 exposed by India’s batting coach
Probable playing XI of England vs Pakistan:
England’s playing XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethel, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
Pakistan playing eleven: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Aga (captain), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Khawaja Nafe, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.
eng vs pak major fight
Adil Rashid vs Babar Azam
The battle between Adil Rashid and Babar Azam in the Super 8 match will be worth watching. Rashid is England’s main spin weapon in the middle overs. He bowls smart leg-spin and mixes his pace well, making it difficult for the batsmen to attack him.
Babar, who now bats at No. 4, prefers to play spin calmly and build his innings with timing and class. However, he is struggling at the moment and Rashid will be keen to send him back quickly.
phil salt vs salman mirza
As an aggressive opening batsman, Phil Salt will look to attack from the start and score quick runs in the powerplay. He will have to face a tough test from Salman Mirza. The Pakistani fast bowler can swing the new ball and this could create problems for Salt in the initial overs in Pallekele.
shadab khan vs harry brook
The battle between Shadab Khan and Harry Brook in the middle overs will play a major role in deciding this Super 8 encounter. It is expected that Shadab will take wickets at crucial times and break partnerships with his leg spin. England captain Brook will have to handle Shadab carefully and keep the scoreboard moving.
jofra archer vs sam ayub
The match between Joffra Archer and Sam Ayub will be very exciting. Archer is known for his fast pace and sharp bounce, while Sam likes to attack from the start.
England vs Pakistan key players
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethel, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Aga, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Tariq
ENG vs PAK Match 41 Super 8 Group 2 – Free Live Streaming & Telecast Details
TV broadcasting in India: The ENG vs PAK T20I will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network, which holds the rights for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India.
Online Live Streaming in India: This match will be live-streamed on Jio Hotstar app and website.
Also read: Is everything not well in the Pakistani camp? Salman Ali Aga clarified the situation before the Super 8 match against New Zealand
England vs Pakistan Match No. 29 Weather Report, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele Pitch Report
England vs Pakistan Pallekele weather report:
The weather looks largely good for the Super 8 match between England and Pakistan. The sky is expected to be partly cloudy in the evening, but conditions should remain fine for the game.
The temperature is expected to be around 20°C during the match, and there is a slight chance of rain, around 25%. Overall the conditions seem suitable for the entire match.
NZ vs PAK Pitch Report from Pallekele International Cricket Stadium:
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium provides support to both batsmen and bowlers in T20. The pitch is good for batting and they can play big shots on this ground. Also the bowlers also get some help. Fast bowlers may get swing and seam movement in the first few overs with the new ball.
As the match progresses, spinners start getting more turns and become more dangerous. In night T20 games, the average first innings score is around 165 to 175. If the team batting first is successful in scoring more than 180, then it becomes very difficult for the chasing team to win the game.
England vs Pakistan head-to-head records:
| statistics | Matchbox | England won | pak won | no results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| overall | 31 | 21 | 9 | 1 |
| In T20 World Cup | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
England vs Pakistan head-to-head records: key stats
The England vs Pakistan T20 rivalry is always full of heat and drama. But the statistics are clearly in England’s favour. Out of 31 T20Is, England have won 21 matches, while Pakistan has been able to win only nine.
England has defeated Pakistan in all three matches in the T20 World Cup. History strongly favors England in this fierce rivalry, and they will love to extend their record in Pallekele.
New Zealand vs Pak – Conclusion:
This match of Super 8 can change any time. England’s power hitters vs Pakistan’s spinners will decide the game. England’s recent record is better, but Pakistan is in good form. With a place in the semi-finals at stake, fans can expect a tough and exciting battle till the last over.