England and Pakistan will face each other in the 45th match of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 in Pallekele. This article covers the ENG vs PAK Match No. 45 preview, including the pitch report, weather forecast, head-to-head records, probable playing XIs, and live streaming details.
It is a high-pressure game where both teams cannot afford to lose. England need to beat Pakistan to stay strong in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final race. England will attack with aggressive batting, while Pakistan will rely on their spin bowling to outsmart each other in Pallekele.
ENG vs PAK Match 45 Super 8 Group 2: Preview
Match Details:
Match Date: The 45th match of the T20 World Cup 2026 will be played on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
Venue: The match will take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele.
Time: This Super 8 match is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM IST.
ENG vs PAK Squads:
England Squad: Harry Brook (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Philip Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood
Pakistan Squad: Salman Ali Agha (C), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq, Salman Mirza
Read Also: South Africa’s ‘unfair advantage’ in T20 World Cup 2026 exposed by India batting coach
ENG vs PAK Predicted Playing XIs:
England Playing XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (C), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Pakistan Playing XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (C), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (WK), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq
ENG vs PAK Key Battles
Adil Rashid vs Babar Azam
The battle between Adil Rashid and Babar Azam will be enthralling to watch out for in the Super 8 clash. Rashid is England’s key spin weapon in the middle overs. He bowls smart leg-spin and mixes his pace well, which makes it difficult for batters to attack him.
Babar, who now bats at No. 4, likes to play spin calmly and build his innings with timing and class. However, he is currently struggling, and Rashid would be keen on sending him back early.
Phil Salt vs Salman Mirza
As an aggressive opener, Phil Salt will try to attack from the start and score quickly in the Powerplay. He will face a tough test from Salman Mirza. The Pakistani pacer can swing the new ball, and that can make things difficult for Salt in the early overs in Pallekele.
Shadab Khan vs Harry Brook
The battle between Shadab Khan and Harry Brook in the middle overs will play a major role in deciding this Super 8 clash. Shadab is expected to take wickets at crucial times and break partnerships with his leg-spin. England captain Brook will need to handle Shadab carefully and keep the scoreboard moving.
Jofra Archer vs Saim Ayub
The battle between Jofra Archer and Saim Ayub will be very exciting. Archer is known for his raw pace and sharp bounce, while Saim likes to attack from the start.
ENG vs PAK Key Players
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Tariq
ENG vs PAK Match 41 Super 8 Group 2 – Free Live Streaming and Telecast Details
TV Broadcast in India: The ENG vs PAK T20I will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network, which holds the rights for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India.
Online Live Streaming in India: This match will be live-streamed on the Jio Hotstar app and website.
Read Also: All not well in Pakistan camp? Salman Ali Agha clears the air ahead of Super 8 clash vs New Zealand
ENG vs PAK Match No. 29 Weather Report, Pitch Report of Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
ENG vs PAK Weather Report of Pallekele:
The weather looks mostly good for the Super 8 match between England and Pakistan. The sky is expected to be partly cloudy during the evening, but conditions should remain fine for play.
The temperature is expected to be nearly 20°C during the match time, and there is a small chance of rain, around 25%. Overall, the conditions seem suitable for the full match.
NZ vs PAK Pitch Report of Pallekele International Cricket Stadium:
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium offers assistance to both the batters and bowlers in T20s. The pitch is good for batting, and they can play big shots at this venue. At the same time, bowlers also get some help. Fast bowlers can get swing and seam movement in the first few overs with the new ball.
As the match progresses, spinners start getting more turn and become more dangerous. In night T20 games, the average first innings score is around 165 to 175. If the first batting team managed to score more than 180, it becomes very tough for the chasing side to win this game.
ENG vs PAK Head-to-Head Records:
| Stats | Matches | ENG Won | PAK Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 31 | 21 | 9 | 1 |
| In T20 World Cups | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
ENG vs PAK Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
England vs Pakistan T20 rivalry is always full of heat and drama. But the numbers clearly favour England. Out of 31 T20Is, England have won 21 matches, while Pakistan have won only nine.
In the T20 World Cups, England have beaten Pakistan in all three meetings. History strongly backs England in this fiery rivalry, and they would love to extend their record in Pallekele.
NZ vs PAK – Conclusion:
This Super 8 match can turn at any time. England’s power hitters vs Pakistan’s spinners will decide the game. England have a better recent record, but Pakistan are in decent form. With a semi-final spot at stake, fans can expect a tight and thrilling fight till the last over.
