The first Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026, between Pakistan and New Zealand, has been washed out in Colombo. The second one, about 150 kilometres away in Pallekele, between Sri Lanka and England, is under the same threat.
Sri Lanka is accustomed to the Pallekele, having beaten Oman and Australia at the venue. The Dasun Shanaka-led team can prepare for the opposition and conditions, but not the weather.
Rain threat in SL vs ENG match
There’s a 50% chance of rain in Pallekele at noon, two hours before the Sri Lanka vs England match. They’ll decrease to 35% at 3 and 25% at 6. This suggests that there’ll be plenty of stoppages if the game goes ahead.
Which would mean making changes. Sri Lanka had rested Dushmantha Chameera against Zimbabwe. He’ll come back. But who should the Lankans drop for him? If we were talking about a normal day game, you’d say Pramod Madushan.
But taking rain into account, Sri Lanka would like to play a fast bowler over a spinner. Once the ball gets wet, it’ll be extremely difficult to grip it, and there won’t be any turn. While fast bowlers will also go for runs, spinners could be unbowlable.
Sri Lanka has been playing two frontline spinners in Dushan Hemantha and Maheesh Theekshana. Hemantha has done well. Taking 5 wickets in the last 2 matches. But as a leg spinner, he won’t find it easy to bowl with a wet ball. Meanwhile, Theekshana should do better as a finger spinner. And that’s the tough decision they’ll have to take.
Zimbabwe game, eye opener
The Zimbabwe game has already acted as an eye-opener of sorts for Sri Lanka. They’ll play a world champion in testing conditions in Pallekele, but they are ready for it.
“Whoever it is, when you’re playing a Super Eight game, you will not play with the same freedom as you would in a bilateral or a private league. So the pressure will be the same for both teams. The teams which do the things correctly under pressure, the team which makes lesser mistakes, is the team that is likely to go through,” Sri Lanka fielding coach R Sridhar said.
“I think that was a good lesson — Zimbabwe game. I think there could have been a little bit of complacency after the score we put up on the board on that pitch. But that was again a fantastic lesson to learn,” he added.
Predicted Sri Lanka Playing XI vs England
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan
Bench: Dushan Hemantha, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara
