ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8, Match 45: ENG vs PAK, head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs

England will face Pakistan in Match 45 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eights at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, February 24. Both teams are looking to gain some important points as the competition to reach the semi-finals becomes more intense.

England is on strong momentum after a comprehensive 51-run victory over Sri Lanka. Batting first, they scored 146/9, with Phil Salt opening the innings with a solid 62. Even though the total did not look very big, England’s bowlers made a huge impact early in the game. Will Jacks picked up 3/22, while Jofra Archer removed key batters in the powerplay. Sri Lanka were reduced to 34/5 in six overs and were eventually bowled out for just 95 in 16.4 overs. The win improved England’s net run rate and boosted their confidence.

Pakistan, however, had an unlucky start in the Super Eights. Their previous match against New Zealand in Colombo was washed out due to rain, and not a single ball was bowled. Both teams had to share points. Pakistan will now be eager to get back on the field and secure a win to build momentum in this important stage.

ENG vs PAK: Head-to-Head in T20Is

• Matches Played: 31
  
• England Won: 20
  
• Pakistan Won: 9
  
• Tied/No Result: 2

ENG vs PAK: Pitch Report

The pitch at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is usually a good ground for batting, and scores above 150 are common in T20 matches. The pitch has good pace and bounce, so batters can play their shots easily after they settle. Bowlers must bowl with control, because loose deliveries can be hit for runs. Fast bowlers may get some help early, but overall the pitch favors batters.

See Also: AUS-W vs IND-W, 1st ODI: Head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs

ENG vs PAK: Predicted Playing XIs

England (ENG):

Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

Pakistan (PAK):

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq