Pakistan cricket team face a near-impossible task of making it to the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals and will have to defeat all odds to beat Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 fixture. Salman Ali Agha and co. will lock horns with a wounded Sri Lankan side who have already been eliminated from the tournament. Ahead of the mouth-watering clash in Pallekele, let’s take a look at the match prediction, probable XIs and all you need to know about the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka game.
PAK vs SL Match Preview
Pakistan’s semi-final hopes are hanging by a thread. After their opening Super 8 clash against New Zealand was washed out and a subsequent loss to England, the Men in Green must beat Sri Lanka by a substantial margin to leapfrog the Kiwis on Net Run Rate (NRR). Specifically, Pakistan need to win by roughly 65 runs (if batting first) or chase their target in under 13 overs to secure a spot in the final four.
Sri Lanka, captained by Dasun Shanaka, will be playing for pride. Despite a strong group stage, back-to-back losses to England and New Zealand in the Super 8s ended their campaign. However, they remain a dangerous side at home and would love to finish the tournament by derailing their neighbors’ ambitions.
PAK vs SL Head-to-Head
- Total Matches: 31
- Pakistan Won: 17
- Sri Lanka Won: 12
- No Result: 2
- In T20 World Cups: Tied at 2-2
Pallekele International Stadium Pitch Report
The Pallekele surface is known for offering a balanced contest. It typically provides reliable pace and bounce during the Powerplay, making it a batter’s paradise early on. However, as the match progresses, the pitch tends to become “tacky” and slow down, bringing spinners like Maheesh Theekshana and Shadab Khan into the game. A score of 165-175 is considered highly competitive here.
Predicted Playing XIs
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka.
PAK vs SL Match Prediction: Who will win?
This is a battle of Pakistan’s desperation versus Sri Lanka’s home advantage. Pakistan have shown flashes of brilliance, particularly through opener Sahibzada Farhan and mystery spinner Usman Tariq (who has 10 wickets this tournament).
While Sri Lanka will be supported by a vocal Kandy crowd, the “must-win” pressure often brings the best out of Pakistan. Given the NRR stakes, expect Pakistan to go all-out.
Prediction: Pakistan to win a close encounter.
