T20 World Cup 2026: ENG vs PAK Today's Match Prediction, Super 8, Group 2 — Who will win today’s match?
Who will win today’s match between England and Pakistan, Super 8, Group 2? (Source: X/@ICC)
Published - 23 Feb 2026, 10:17 PM• Read time - 12 mins
Match Preview
England and Pakistan clash in their second Super Eights match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (PICS) in Kandy on Tuesday, February 24.
England had a surprisingly fantastic outing against Sri Lanka at the same venue last Sunday. Despite setting an achievable target of 147, the team came out victors by 51 runs as the bowlers set up the win. The spinners accounted for seven of the 10 wickets to fall and a similar pattern is expected to occur in this match on Tuesday evening though the pitch is expected to behave much better than for the Lankan game.
Pakistan's first Super Eights match against New Zealand was washed out on last Saturday and the team will be itching to get on the field after a week's time. Importantly, the Men in Green move out of Colombo for the first time in the tournament and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to a new venue. Incidentally, their opponent has won four successive matches at PICS - all against Sri Lanka with the first three coming in the bilateral series which concluded just before the T20 World Cup.
As for team combinations, England would look to field the same XI which defeated Sri Lanka. The bowlers worked in tandem to produce a memorable win, however, the batters need to apply themselves much better this time around. For Pakistan, the XI that was named for the New Zealand game might be the one which will take the field in this game too as it includes players who have performances to back their places.
Match Info
| Date | Fixture | Group | Venue | Start time (Local time) |
| Tuesday, February 24 | Match No. 45, England vs Pakistan | Super Eights, Group 2 | Pallekele IC Stadium, Kandy | 7 PM |
Venue Statistics (T20Is)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 34 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 17 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 14 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 165 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 144 |
| Highest Total Recorded |
263/3 (20) AUS vs SL
|
| Lowest Total Recorded |
88/10 (16) NZ vs SL
|
| Highest Score Chased |
184/2 (18) SL vs AUS
|
| Lowest Score Defended |
133/10 (16.2) SL vs ENG
|
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Playing Conditions:
| Aspect | Batters | Pacers | Spinners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Assistance | Low to moderate | Moderate | High |
| Bounce | Moderate | Satisfactory | Variable |
| Movement | Moderate | Minimal swing | Turn almost throughout |
| Best Phase | Middle to death overs | Early and middle overs | Almost throughout |
ENG vs PAK Head-to-Head record (T20Is)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 31 |
| England Wins | 21 |
| Pakistan Wins | 09 |
| No Results | 01 |
ENG vs PAK Playing XI Prediction
England
Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (C), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Pakistan
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (C), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq
ENG vs PAK: Players to watch out for
Sahibzada Farhan (PAK):
Farhan is the highest run-scorer in the tournament right now, just one run ahead of Shimron Hetmyer. The right-hander has 220 runs from four innings to his name at an average of 73.33 and a strike rate of 164.17. The opener is in good touch and hitting the ball cleanly with minimal complications. The 29-year-old is expected to deliver again on a track which is being touted as more batting-friendly than the previous one.
Adil Rashid (ENG):
Rashid is the team's highest wicket-taker with eight scalps from five innings. The leg spinner's variations will come in handy notwithstanding the amount of assistance the wicket will provide. If not wickets, the wily wrist spinner is capable of tying the run flow and build pressure from one end. Rashid is an important cog in the spin wheel of the team and the possibility of success will depend greatly on how he and the spinners weave their magic around the Men in Green.
Today's Match Prediction: England to win.
