Pakistan opts to bat first against England in crucial T20 World Cup match | The Express Tribune

Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first in their crucial T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight match against England on Tuesday at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Salman Agha expressed confidence in the pitch, stating, “It looks like a good pitch, and we aim to set an above-par score and defend it.” He also confirmed one change for Pakistan, with Faheem making way for Shaheen Afridi.

Agha noted the fresh pitch, adding, “Hopefully, it’ll be better for chasing.”

Harry Brook shared his preference for securing the win today rather than facing a must-win match against New Zealand on Friday. “That would be lovely, wouldn’t it? But you never know in T20 cricket, it’s such a fickle game,” he said.

Brook also mentioned that had he won the toss, he would have opted to bat first, but he expects a better surface than the one England played on at Pallekele two days ago, in their low-scoring win against Sri Lanka. “Hopefully, it’s going to be a little bit better,” he said. “We haven’t had our perfect game yet. Hopefully, it’s just around the corner.”

England remain unchanged, with the same playing XI for the fifth consecutive match.

Pakistan’s chances of reaching the semi-finals will be decided today. To secure a spot in the semi-finals, Pakistan must win today’s game against England and follow it up with a victory over Sri Lanka.

Pakistan’s opening Super Eight match against New Zealand was abandoned due to persistent rain at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

That match was called off after more than two-and-a-half hours of continuous rainfall, shortly after Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bat, resulting in both teams sharing a point.

On the other hand, England is leading the Super Eight group after defeating host nation Sri Lanka in their opening match, securing two points.

Under the tournament’s ‘Fusion Formula’, Pakistan are playing all their T20 World Cup 2026 matches in Sri Lanka. As a result, should Pakistan qualify, the first semi-final will be staged at the R Premadasa Stadium. If they fail to progress, that fixture will instead be hosted at Eden Gardens.

The venue for the final on March 8 will also depend on Pakistan’s progress in the tournament.

According to the latest forecasts, there is no rain predicted around match time at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, easing fears of another washout in the Super Eights stage. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm local time, with temperatures expected to hover around 27°C and a ‘real feel’ of 28°C.

Skies are forecast to remain largely clear, with cloud cover limited to around 14% and visibility extending up to 16 kilometres. Light north-westerly winds of 6km/h, with occasional gusts reaching 13km/h, are expected to offer minimal relief in what will be humid playing conditions.

Humidity levels are projected at 68%, with a dew point of 20°C, suggesting a sticky evening for players and spectators alike. While conditions appear ideal for cricket, weather officials have cautioned that poor air quality may affect residents, particularly those with respiratory issues.