Last Updated on 3 months ago by Charbel Coorey

England and Pakistan will lock horns against each other in the fifth Super 8 match (45th game) of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The match will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele, on 24th February 2026, at 7 PM IST. This promises to be a cracking encounter with so much riding on it.

England defeated Sri Lanka in their last game by 51 runs. The bowlers held their own as they bowled out Sri Lanka for just 95 runs, defending 146 in the process. Phil Salt (62 runs) helped England to a fighting total with some help from Will Jacks (21 runs), who continued his good run with the bat.

Jacks then picked up three wickets, while Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Liam Dawson picked up two wickets each. England are still struggling with the bat, especially Jos Buttler and Harry Brook. Tom Banton, Sam Curran, and Jacob Bethell played well in a game or two during the group stages, but they’ll have to be consistent.

Pakistan had their first Super 8 game (against New Zealand) washed out. They too are struggling for consistency with both bat and ball. Sahibzada Farhan is the only in-form batter for Pakistan, and they need to deliver as a unit in these conditions.

The pacers have been ineffective so far, while the spinners have done well, but the likes of Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, and Shaheen Afridi have been far from their best till now. Pakistan needs to regroup and perform as a team, as this will be their second game after India where they will be against a strong opposition.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 45th Match: ENG vs PAK Probable Playing XIs

Will England persist with Jos Buttler? Ben Duckett is an option for England.

England: 1. Phil Salt, 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Jacob Bethell, 4. Tom Banton, 5. Harry Brook (c), 6. Sam Curran, 7. Will Jacks, 8. Jamie Overton, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Liam Dawson, 11. Adil Rashid

Pakistan: 1. Sahibzada Farhan, 2. Saim Ayub, 3. Salman Ali Agha (c), 4. Babar Azam, 5. Usman Khan (wk), 6. Khawaja Nafay/Fakhar Zaman, 7. Shadab Khan, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Abrar Ahmed/Mohammad Nawaz, 10. Salman Mirza, 11. Usman Tariq

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

The pitch at Pallekele has been a good one for batting this tournament, but the last game saw the spinners dominate the match. There was grip and turn, and batters had to work hard for their runs. 

But despite all that, it wasn’t a bad wicket for batting. Batters, once set, can play their shots. A similar kind of wicket is expected for this game too. Scores in the range of 150-170 are expected, and teams may prefer chasing, but batting first will be a good option as well. 

It will be a clear day at Pallekele with no chance of rain. The temperature will be around 22 degrees Celsius with 85% humidity at the start of the game.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for ENG vs PAK: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:  

• Phil Salt scored 62 runs in the last game. He looked in good touch and played his natural game. Salt can take the game away from the opposition in the power play itself. Try him as C/VC in some of your teams.

Key batter picks: 

• Jacob Bethell is England’s highest run-scorer in the tournament so far – 146 runs in 5 matches at an average of 29.20, including a fifty. Bethell has gone off track after a good start, but he’s a good player and can contribute with the ball as well. 
• Sahibzada Farhan has 220 runs in four innings at an average of 73.33 at rate of 164.17 with one fifty and one hundred to his name. He’s been a consistent batter for Pakistan and will be a must in your fantasy teams.

Top all-rounder picks: 

• Sam Curran will fetch points from both bat and ball. He will bat in the middle order and will bowl the crucial overs for England. His form has been hot and cold, but the conditions will suit him in this game. Curran has 109 runs and 6 wickets to his name
• Will Jacks has been the best player for England in the tournament. He is scoring consistently down the order and is contributing with the ball as well. Jacks has 131 runs at an average of 65.50, at a strike rate of 195.52, and has five wickets well. Try him as C/VC.
• Jamie Overton is yet to get going with the bat, but he’s bowling well. He has seven wickets in four matches at a strike rate of 12. He hits the deck hard and is looking in good rhythm. Overton is capable with the bat too.
• Saim Ayub has been far from his best with the bat, but he’s picking up wickets consistently and will bat at the top, which makes him a must-pick. He has five wickets at a strike rate of just 9.5 till now. He has struggled with the bat though – 63 runs in four innings.

Key bowler picks: 

• Adil Rashid is bowling the important overs for England. The conditions suit him, and he’s using all his experience to get the work done. Rashid will trouble Pakistan’s struggling middle order. He has eight wickets in five games.
• Usman Tariq will be another player you can’t miss out on. England has struggled against spin, and they may find it difficult to pick his bowling. He has eight wickets in three innings at an economy of 5.82 and a strike rate of 8.6. Try him as C/VC in some of your teams.
• Jofra Archer has been a little expensive this tournament, but he has eight wickets to his name. He’s looking in good rhythm, especially with the new ball, and Pakistan have lost powerplay wickets regularly in this World Cup.

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team 

• Tom Banton
• Mohammad Nawaz
• Liam Dawson
• Rovman Powell

Other Matchups and Facts 

• Both sides have lost only one game each till now, but they haven’t played a lot against stronger teams. This will be a real test for both sides and a crucial game for their semi-final hopes.
• England have won all three matches against Pakistan in men’s T20 World Cups, including the 2022 final.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 45th Match: ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 45th Match: ENG vs PAK Match Prediction: Who will win?

Both teams are looking in good form, especially with the ball. Batting will be the decider for both sides, as whoever bats well will eventually end up winning the game. Considering the depth and quality in their squad, England should win this game.  

England to win. 

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All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.