T20 World Cup 2026: Super Eights, Match 45, ENG vs PAK – Top 3 player battles to watch out for

Published - 23 Feb 2026, 18:06 IST | Updated - 23 Feb 2026, 19:11 IST

The Super Eights clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 between England and Pakistan will be played on February 24 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, with both teams arriving in decent form.

Harry Brook-led England finished the group stage with three wins out of four games and qualified for the Super Eights. Having faced Sri Lanka in their Super Eight opener, the former champions edged past the hosts with utmost ease, as they clinched a comfortable 51-run win. The Three Lions will be riding high on confidence, and a win in this contest will almost confirm their qualification for the Semis.

Pakistan, too, won all four of its league games and finished second in its group. However, their Super Eight opener against New Zealand was hampered by constant rain, with both teams sharing a point. The Men in Green will be hoping to get their best game forward and clinch those important two points.

Babar Azam and Adil Rashid will be up against each other for the 12th time in their T20I career. In 11 innings against Rashid, Babar has scored 84 runs off 70 balls at a strike rate of 120. Rashid, on the other hand, has dismissed him four times, maintaining an economy of 7.20 and a bowling strike rate of 17.50 in this head-to-head battle.

In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, the contrast in form has been evident. Babar, now batting at No. 4 in Pakistan’s reshuffled order, has struggled to impose himself consistently, with questions around his strike rate continuing to surface. Rashid, meanwhile, has been in superb rhythm, picking up important wickets, including a 2/13 against Sri Lanka, and climbing the all-time wicket charts.