Pakistan face a must-win Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, needing a massive victory or rapid chase to overturn their net run rate disadvantage and keep semifinal hopes alive.
The Men in Green have been handed a faint lifeline after England beat New Zealand by eight wickets, creating a rare opportunity for Pakistan to remain in contention at this T20 World Cup stage.
New Zealand’s vastly superior net run rate compared to Pakistan means only a dominant performance, winning by around 64 runs or chasing within 13.1 overs will secure Pakistan’s progress.
This high-stakes clash tests Pakistan’s middle-order, batting aggression, and tactics, while Sri Lanka, already eliminated, will play with pride to challenge Pakistan’s required margin.
Conditions
The weather at Pallekele during the Super Eights clash is expected to remain mostly sunny, offering ideal conditions for uninterrupted play while minimizing disruptions for both teams
Temperatures will reach around 31°C in the early afternoon, falling to 24–25°C by late night, providing a comfortable environment and consistent conditions throughout all 40 overs.
The pitch, which hosted England and Pakistan earlier, assists pacers with early movement, while slower conditions challenge stroke play and allow spinners to gain traction in the middle overs.
Pakistan: Expected Changes
The Men in Green are likely to drop Babar Azam and include Khawaja Nafay to inject more aggression at the top of the order, while the seam attack may favor Naseem Shah over Salman Mirza for added pace.
The batting lineup could be reshuffled to promote Fakhar Zaman or Saim Ayub during the powerplay to accelerate the scoring, while Shadab Khan and Usman Khan take responsibility in the middle overs.
Probable playing XIs
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Babar Azam/Khawaja Nafay, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan , Mohammad Nawaz/Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza/Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq
Sri Lanka: Expected Changes
Sri Lanka will likely make minimal adjustments after recent setbacks, with Kamil Mishara resuming as wicketkeeper-batter and spinners Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana leading the bowling attack.
The batting order may shift to provide Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka greater responsibility against Pakistan’s fast bowlers, while captain Dasun Shanaka manages the innings strategy during the middle overs.
Probable playing XIs
Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara , Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
