ICC T20 World Cup 2026: England vs Pakistan Playing XI, Super 8 Group 2 Match Preview & Fantasy Tips

The Pakistan men’s cricket team is set to take on Harry Brook’s England in the 45th match of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup campaign, starting February 24. Notably, this match will be held at 7:00 pm IST at the Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy. This is a key Super 8 Group 2 clash.

Pakistan come into this contest on the back of three successive wins and a defeat from 4 group-stage games. Thereafter, they saw their Super 8s opener against New Zealand get abandoned due to rain. On the other hand, England won three and lost one match in their group-stage journey. That defeat was against the West Indies. In their Super 8s opener, they claimed a win over Sri Lanka.

What is the Context of the ENG vs PAK match?

England will hope talisman Jos Buttler joins the party. He has not fired in this edition of the T20 World Cup. The trump cards for England remain Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell. Spinner Adil Rashid is a key figure and can tie down the Lankans.

Pakistan cannot afford to lose. They will want to win this contest to remain in the hunt for a semi-final berth. A defeat will dampen their chances. Pakistan need their batters to come good. They have been over-reliant on opener Sahibzada Farhan. Pakistan will need to play smart cricket and look to score enough against a sturdy England bowling unit.

In terms of the head-to-head record, England and Pakistan have played 31 times to date. England own 20 wins compared to Pakistan’s 9. One match was tied, and one game didn’t have a result. At the T20 World Cup, England have beaten Pakistan in all of the three meetings.

Pakistan – Probable Playing XI

Sahibzada Farhan : He hit a ton in the previous contest against Namibia. He is also the top run-scorer in this T20 WC edition.

Saim Ayub: He has been solid with his all-round skills. Pakistan will rely upon him to provide fireworks. He owns 5 wickets from 4 matches.

Salman Agha (c): He has looked to be more aggressive of late. After a strong series against Australia, he has failed to deliver with 12, 1 4 and 38 in this T20 World Cup.

Babar Azam: He will once again bat at 4. He has been criticised for his strike rate.

Usman Khan (wk): After 2 ducks, he has picked up pace and did a reasonable job with 44 versus India.

Shadab Khan: He has scores worth 8, 30, 14 and 36 in this T20 World Cup. With the ball, he has five wickets.

Mohammad Nawaz: He is three shy of 100 T20I wickets (97) and two short of 50 T20I sixes.

Faheem Ashraf: He has scores worth 29*, 1 and 10 in this T20 World Cup. Ashraf hasn’t been utilised with the ball.

Shaheen Afridi: He will lead the bowling attack for Pakistan. An experienced figure, Afridi will be keen to take early wickets.

Abrar Ahmed: He has been in good form. Abrar, who has three wickets in this World Cup, is one shy of 50 T20I scalps.

Usman Tariq: There has been a question mark on his bowling. Despite being cleared by the ICC, doubts remain. He has three wickets in this T20 World Cup.

Player to watch out for (Sahibzada Farhan): He remains a solid force upfront with his aggressive batting and eye for runs.

England – Probable Playing XI

Phil Salt: The aggressive English opener hit an important fifty in the Super 8s clash against Sri Lanka. Before that, he was short of runs.

Jos Buttler (wk): The veteran batter has struggled. He has scored 60 runs from 5 matches at 12 in this ongoing T20 WC.

Jacob Bethell: The promising player has 146 runs from 5 matches in this T20 WC. He averages 29.20.

Tom Banton: The star T20 specialist has 103 runs from 5 outings. This includes an unbeaten 63.

Harry Brook (c): A countable figure, England skipper Brook owns 102 runs from 5 outings at 20.40.

Sam Curran: The all-rounder has scored 109 runs with the bat so far, and with the ball, he has picked up six scalps.

Will Jacks: He brings value to the side. He has scored 131 runs from 5 matches. His strike rate of 195-plus in this ongoing event is notable.

Jofra Archer: England’s leading pacer has eight scalps from 5 matches. His economy rate of 8.89 is on the higher side.

Liam Dawson: The spinner has picked 6 scalps from 5 matches at a decent 22.33.

Jamie Overton: The speedster has picked seven scalps from four matches. He will want to bring control to this England pace unit.

Adil Rashid: The right-arm spinner has picked six scalps from 4 matches. He averages 17.83.

Player to watch out for (Will Jacks): He is having a good tournament, and England will rely on his work.

Top Batters for Dream11

In terms of the Dream11 team pick, among batters, the likes of Sahibzada Farhan, Phil Salt and Saim Ayub can be wise picks alongside Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook.

Jos Buttler can be a differential pick. He remains a danger, and England will hope he takes on Pakistan and regains his form.

Best All-Rounders to Boost Points

In terms of all-rounders, one can go with two sound options in the form of Will Jacks and Mohammad Nawaz.

Bowlers to Watch in Dream11

The likes of Abrar Ahmed and Jofra Archer can be wise picks. Adil Rashid can be another option.

Captain and Vice-captain picks

Farhan can be an ideal captaincy option with Brook being the vice-captain pick.

One can mix it with Jacks being picked as captain and having Ayub as the vice-captain.

Pitch Report & Venue Conditions

The surface at Pallekele is generally known for being batter-friendly at the start. With a firm base and reliable bounce, stroke-makers can play through the line confidently in the powerplay and early overs. The ball comes on nicely, allowing teams to build momentum upfront.

As the match progresses, however, the pitch tends to lose pace. It becomes slightly tacky, bringing spinners and change-of-pace bowlers into the contest. The slower nature of the track in the latter half often makes timing difficult, rewarding bowlers who vary their speeds and hit consistent areas.

In T20 Internationals, average first-innings totals at the venue typically fall in the 162–172 range, suggesting a competitive but not overly high-scoring ground. Teams that assess conditions quickly and adjust to the slowing surface usually hold the edge.

Match Prediction – Who Has the Upper Hand?

All things considered, England will be the slight favourites, and one expects them to handle the threat Pakistan will provide. England are perhaps peaking at the right time, and they could outwit Salman Agha’s men, especially with the bat.

FAQs About ENG vs PAK Playing 11

Who are the key players in the ENG vs PAK clash?

Will Jacks will be aiming to make his presence felt for the England side. For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan remains their ideal bet.

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