KANDY, Sri Lanka: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has won the toss and elected to bat first against England in their pivotal Super Eight encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The decision puts Pakistan in first, with the Men in Green looking to set a challenging total in this high-stakes T20 World Cup fixture.
Head-to-head favours England
Looking at the broader T20 history between these sides, England holds a commanding advantage.
The two teams have faced each other 31 times in the shortest format, with the Three Lions winning 21 encounters.
Pakistan has managed nine victories, while one match was abandoned without a result.
The World Cup record makes for even more challenging reading for Pakistani fans.
In their three previous T20 World Cup meetings, England has emerged victorious on all three occasions, leaving Pakistan still searching for their maiden win against their rivals on cricket’s biggest stage.
Captaincy changes mark this encounter
Both teams will take the field under new leadership for this tournament.
Pakistan is being captained by Salman Ali Agha, who leads a squad blending experienced campaigners with emerging talent.
The team includes batting mainstay Babar Azam, explosive opener Sahibzada Farhan, and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, who will be crucial to Pakistan’s hopes of breaking their duck against England.
England, under the captaincy of Harry Brook, fields a formidable lineup despite the absence of some regular players.
The squad boasts considerable firepower with the likes of Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Jofra Archer, alongside spin wizard Adil Rashid, making them a well-rounded unit capable of exploiting conditions in Kandy.
Match significance
With the tournament entering its business end, both Pakistan and England will be aware that victory here could prove decisive in determining which teams progress to the knockout stages.
The Pallekele pitch is expected to offer assistance to spinners, potentially bringing Pakistan’s slow bowling options into play against England’s aggressive batting lineup.
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For Pakistan, this match presents an opportunity to overturn a historical trend and prove their mettle against a side that has consistently had their number in World Cup settings.
England, meanwhile, will aim to maintain their dominance and continue their winning momentum against the Men in Green.
Form guide
England: WWWLW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Pakistan: WLWWW
Pitch and conditions
The 45th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be contested on a fresh pitch at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, offering conditions expected to favour batting more than the surface used during England’s clash with Sri Lanka on Sunday.
The new deck appears better suited to England’s aggressive style of play, though captain Harry Brook downplayed concerns about the previous surface, noting ‘it was just slow’ rather than particularly difficult for batters.
Weather conditions have improved significantly in Kandy, with no return of the heavy rains that disrupted preparations on the eve of the previous match.
Tuesday’s forecast predicts sunshine accompanied by light winds, with temperatures expected to reach a high of 31 degrees Celsius, ideal conditions for an uninterrupted contest between these two former champions.
Squads
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq.
England: 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, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue and Luke Wood.
