Anticipation will soar on 24th February at 7:00 PM IST as England square off against Pakistan in the forty-fifth match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele, setting up a high-intensity evening battle between two power-packed sides.
Get the best ENG vs PAK Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 45th match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Expert analysis and more.
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ENG vs PAK Match Preview:
Semi-final ambitions will sharpen when England meet Pakistan in the forty-fifth match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Tuesday, 24 February 2026. Moreover, this Group 2 Super 8 contest will begin at 7:00 PM IST at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, where both sides will fight to strengthen their path toward qualification. The Pallekele surface generally provides steady bounce and pace, which encourages attacking strokeplay early in the innings. However, evening dew often influences the second half of the match, and therefore the captain who wins the toss may prefer to chase under more favorable batting conditions.
England currently sit at the top of the Group 2 standings with two points after defeating Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their Super 8 opener. In contrast, Pakistan hold one point following a rain-abandoned fixture against New Zealand in Colombo. Furthermore, England carry strong momentum after defending a modest total with disciplined bowling. Consequently, a win here would place them firmly on the brink of the semi-finals, while Pakistan must secure victory to maintain control over their qualification hopes.
Phil Salt anchored England’s previous outing with a determined 62, and Will Jacks added balance by contributing 21 runs alongside figures of 3 for 22. Additionally, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid applied relentless pressure to restrict Sri Lanka despite England posting only 146. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s last completed match saw Sahibzada Farhan blast an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls in a 102-run triumph over Namibia, while Usman Tariq claimed 4 for 16. Historically, England lead the rivalry 22-10 in 33 T20Is. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s adaptability in subcontinental conditions ensures that this encounter promises a fiercely competitive battle.
ENG vs PAK Head-to-Head Record:
|
Teams |
Matches Won |
|
England |
22 |
|
Pakistan |
10 |
ENG vs PAK Weather & Pitch Report:
|
Temperature |
25°C |
|
Weather Forecast |
Cloudy |
|
Pitch Behaviour |
Batting-friendly |
|
Best Suited To |
Pace and spin |
|
Average 1st innings score |
161 |
Record of chasing teams:
|
Records |
Good |
|
Winning % |
54% |
ENG vs PAK Playing 11s (Predicted):
England Playing 11:
1) Philip Salt
2) Jos Buttler (wk)
3) Jacob Bethell
4) Tom Banton
5) Harry Brook ©
6) Sam Curran
7) Will Jacks
8) Jamie Overton
9) Liam Dawson
10) Jofra Archer
11) Adil Rashid
Pakistan Playing 11:
1) Sahibzada Farhan
2) Saim Ayub
3) Salman Agha ©
4) Babar Azam
5) Fakhar Zaman
6) Usman Khan (wk)
7) Shadab Khan
8) Mohammad Nawaz
9) Faheem Ashraf
10) Salman Mirza
11) Usman Tariq
Hot Picks for ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Picks:
|
Saim Ayub – Multi-skilled left-handed opener for Pakistan has registered 63 runs and 3 wickets in 4 games, including a pivotal 3/25 spell that disrupted India’s middle order. |
|
Will Jacks – England’s impactful right-handed all-rounder has delivered 113 runs and 8 wickets in 5 matches, earning Player of the Match honors versus Sri Lanka with a match-defining 3/22 performance. |
Top Picks:
|
Sahibzada Farhan – Pakistan’s prolific right-handed opener has compiled 220 runs in 4 fixtures, topping the tournament charts after an unbeaten 100* off 58 deliveries against Namibia. |
|
Philip Salt – Aggressive right-handed opener for England has amassed 200 runs in 5 outings, highlighted by a decisive 62 off 40 balls against Sri Lanka that launched his team’s Super 8 campaign in emphatic fashion. |
Budget Picks:
|
Harry Brook – England’s leader and refined right-handed stroke-maker has accumulated 42 runs in 5 appearances. |
|
Salman Agha – Pakistan’s astute captain and accomplished right-handed batter has produced 60 runs and claimed 1 wicket in 4 matches. |
ENG vs PAK ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:
|
Captain |
Saim Ayub & Will Jacks |
|
Vice-Captain |
Philip Salt & Sahibzada Farhan |
ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keeper – Jos Buttler, Philip Salt (vc)
- Batters – Sahibzada Farhan, Jacob Bethell
- All-rounders – Sam Curran, Shadab Khan, Will Jacks, Saim Ayub ©
- Bowlers – Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Usman Tariq

ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keeper – Philip Salt
- Batters – Salman Agha, Harry Brook, Sahibzada Farhan (vc), Jacob Bethell
- All-rounders – Sam Curran, Will Jacks ©, Saim Ayub
- Bowlers – Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Usman Tariq

ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today Match 45 ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Players to Avoid:
|
Players |
Dream11 Credits |
Dream11 Points (Last match) |
|
Usman Khan |
7.0 credits |
NA |
|
Rehan Ahmed |
6.5 credits |
NA |
ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today Match 45 ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Expert Advice:
|
SL Captaincy Choice |
Saim Ayub |
|
GL Captaincy Choice |
Will Jacks |
|
Punt Picks |
Salman Agha and Harry Brook |
|
Dream11 Combination |
2-2-4-3 |
ENG vs PAK Match Winner Prediction:
Recent consistency backed by positive past results strengthens England’s chances of winning this encounter.