Pakistan have a chance to pip New Zealand to a place in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals when they face eliminated Sri Lanka in Balagolla on Saturday.
Salman Agha’s players will need to win by around 64 runs or chase down a target in around 13.1 overs if they are to advance, according to ESPN permutations.
Those figures look unlikely on Pakistan’s current form and they have never beaten a full member at the finals when batting first, although they have achieved the feat once when chasing.
“We just have to do the job against Sri Lanka,” captain Salman Ali Agha told Sky Sports (via BBC Sport) after a two-wicket defeat to England in Pallekele on Tuesday.
“Sahibzada Farhan has batted really well in every single game he has played in this World Cup. He has been doing well for us in the last six or seven months.
“As the other batters, we haven’t been doing as well as we would want to but it can go like that in World Cup games. We are still hoping in the next game we can do well.”
Sri Lanka were the first team ousted at the Super Eight stage with a 61-run defeat to New Zealand in Khettarama on Wednesday, having previously lost to Zimbabwe and England.
“I said before the start of the tournament that I expected the wickets to be good for batting,” said captain captain Dasun Shanaka.
“Sri Lanka’s best batters are here. We’ve picked players who have good domestic strike rates and ability. No-one is here by force.
“Sometimes we don’t get conditions we want and we lose matches in unexpected ways. We’re very sad about what has happened.
“A lot of times, what we see and hear are negative things. No matter how we as cricketers try to stay positive, there is negativity outside.
“That’s a big loss for Sri Lankan cricket. This is the only sport we have and I don’t know if we’ll be able to protect it.
“If you look outside the stadium, you’ll see how many people are standing outside with mics, and people will say stuff without having watched the match.”
Sri Lanka v Pakistan team news
Kusal Mendis is a doubt for Sri Lanka with a hamstring issue, so Kamil Mishara could return as wicketkeeper-batter.
Pakistan’s calculations include a choice between seamers Naseem Shah and Salman Mirza.
Sri Lanka v Pakistan predicted teams
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq
Where to watch Sri Lanka v Pakistan
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan starts at 13:30 GMT on Saturday. The T20 World Cup is being shown live in the UK on Sky Sports, with streaming on the Sky Go app.
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Sri Lanka v Pakistan prediction
Expect Pakistan to recover from their defeat to England, for whom Harry Brook shone to leave the losers’ fate precariously in the balance.
Agha’s 50th match leading Pakistan looks unlikely to produce the margin of victory his side require to progress, but they should see off a Sri Lanka side who lost 3-0 to England in a T20I series last month and have far less riding on the result.
