Pakistan have an opportunity to pip New Zealand to a spot within the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals after they face eradicated Sri Lanka in Balagolla on Saturday.
Salman Agha’s gamers might want to win by round 64 runs or chase down a goal in round 13.1 overs if they’re to advance, in line with ESPN permutations.
These figures look unlikely on Pakistan’s present type and so they have by no means crushed a full member on the finals when batting first, though they’ve achieved the feat as soon as when chasing.
“We simply need to do the job in opposition to Sri Lanka,” captain Salman Ali Agha instructed Sky Sports activities (by way of BBC Sport) after a two-wicket defeat to England in Pallekele on Tuesday.
“Sahibzada Farhan has batted very well in each single sport he has performed on this World Cup. He has been doing nicely for us within the final six or seven months.
“As the opposite batters, we haven’t been doing in addition to we might wish to however it may go like that in World Cup video games. We’re nonetheless hoping within the subsequent sport we will do nicely.”
Sri Lanka have been the primary crew ousted on the Tremendous Eight stage with a 61-run defeat to New Zealand in Khettarama on Wednesday, having beforehand misplaced to Zimbabwe and England.
“I stated earlier than the beginning of the match that I anticipated the wickets to be good for batting,” stated captain captain Dasun Shanaka.
“Sri Lanka’s greatest batters are right here. We’ve picked gamers who’ve good home strike charges and skill. No-one is right here by drive.
“Typically we don’t get situations we would like and we lose matches in surprising methods. We’re very unhappy about what has occurred.
“A variety of occasions, what we see and listen to are damaging issues. Regardless of how we as cricketers attempt to keep constructive, there may be negativity outdoors.
“That’s a giant loss for Sri Lankan cricket. That is the one sport we’ve got and I don’t know if we’ll be capable to defend it.
“In case you look outdoors the stadium, you’ll see how many individuals are standing outdoors with mics, and folks will say stuff with out having watched the match.”
Sri Lanka v Pakistan crew information
Kusal Mendis is a doubt for Sri Lanka with a hamstring challenge, so Kamil Mishara may return as wicketkeeper-batter.
Pakistan’s calculations embrace a selection between seamers Naseem Shah and Salman Mirza.
Sri Lanka v Pakistan predicted groups
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
The place to look at Sri Lanka v Pakistan
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan begins at 13:30 GMT on Saturday. The T20 World Cup is being proven reside within the UK on Sky Sports, with streaming on the Sky Go app.
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Sri Lanka v Pakistan prediction
Count on Pakistan to get better from their defeat to England, for whom Harry Brook shone to depart the losers’ destiny precariously within the stability.
Agha’s fiftieth match main Pakistan seems unlikely to supply the margin of victory his facet require to progress, however they need to see off a Sri Lanka facet who misplaced 3-0 to England in a T20I collection final month and have far much less using on the end result.
