England and Pakistan are set to face off in Match 45 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on Tuesday, February 24, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
This is an important Super 8 Group 2 match. The group also includes New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
England comes into this game after a strong victory against Sri Lanka. In contrast, Pakistan’s game against New Zealand was canceled due to rain.
England aims to secure a win to boost their chances of advancing. For Pakistan, a loss would complicate their path to the semifinals.
England T20 World Cup Squad
Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett.
England hopes Jos Buttler steps up with crucial early runs. Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson are performing well, while Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks contribute as valuable all-rounders.
Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
Pakistan began by winning their first two matches in T20 World Cup Group A, defeating the Netherlands and the USA. They lost to India but secured qualification to the Super 8 Group 2 after beating Namibia. Their Super 8 match against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain.
Head-to-Head Record
England and Pakistan have met 31 times, with England winning 20 games and Pakistan 9. There was one tie and one match with no result. In T20 World Cup history, England has beaten Pakistan in all three encounters.
Probable XI for Both Teams
Pakistan’s probable XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed.
England’s probable XI: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jamie Overton.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Details
The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, located in Kandy, opened in 2009, originally known as Khettarama Stadium until 1994. The stadium was built for the 2011 ODI World Cup and has a capacity of 35,000 spectators.
Pitch Conditions
The Pallekele pitch is known for balanced surfaces suitable for T20 games. A total of 34 international T20 matches have been played here.
The pitch usually favors batters early on, providing good bounce for stroke-making during the powerplay. However, it tends to slow down as the game progresses, assisting spinners and change-of-pace bowlers.
Key Stats at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
England has played 7 matches here, winning 5 and losing 2. Pakistan has played 2 matches, winning both.
The highest team total at this stadium is Australia’s 263/3 against Sri Lanka in 2016. Sri Lanka’s 225/5 against Oman in the 2026 T20 World Cup is the second highest.
The lowest total recorded is New Zealand’s 88 against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka also has the next two lowest scores of 116.
Kusal Mendis holds the record for most runs here with 522, followed by Kusal Perera (415) and Pathum Nissanka (408). England’s Phil Salt has scored 109 runs at an average of 36.33 in three matches.
Lasith Malinga has the most wickets at this venue with 18. Among active players, Maheesh Theekshana has taken 14 wickets.
Weather Forecast
The weather for Tuesday is expected to be clear, with no rain forecasted. Temperatures will range between 22°C and 26°C, with humidity above 80% and winds around 10 km/h.
Match Predictions
Considering recent performances, England is slightly favored to win and may effectively counter the threats posed by Pakistan, particularly with their batting.
FAQs about Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
What is the pitch report for Pallekele International Cricket Stadium?
The Pallekele pitch is balanced for T20 matches, supporting both batting and bowling throughout the game.
What are the records for England and Pakistan at this stadium?
England has a record of 5 wins out of 7 matches at Pallekele, whereas Pakistan has won both of their games here.
