: T20 World Cup 2026: Ugly brawl breaks out between England and Pakistan fans in Pallekele

Published - 25 Feb 2026, 11:55 IST | Updated - 25 Feb 2026, 12:24 IST

Tensions boiled over at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday as an ugly brawl broke out between England and Pakistan supporters during their Super 8 clash in the T20 World Cup. According to visuals that have since gone viral on social media, a Pakistan supporter named Saud was seen involved in a heated altercation with an England fan. The exchange quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, leading several local Sri Lankan spectators to intervene and separate the two parties.

The incident gained further traction after Australian influencer Jake Jennings shared the video online, labelling Saud a serial offender and urging the ICC to take action. Jennings claimed he had encountered the same individual earlier in the tournament. Saud, however, provided a contrasting version, alleging that the England supporters approached him first and misbehaved, even accusing them of throwing beer at him, which he said triggered the fight. Tournament authorities are yet to make an official statement on the matter.

Play silly games, win silly prizes. Serial offender. Time for the @ICC to take a stand. #cricket #worldcup

Meanwhile, the game began with Pakistan having elected to bat first, posting 164/9 in their 20 overs. Opener Sahibzada Farhan continued his prolific run in the tournament with a 63 off 45 balls. Babar Azam struggled to accelerate and was eventually bowled for 25, while Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan chipped in with valuable contributions. England spinner Liam Dawson stood out with figures of 3/24.

Pakistan SF qualification scenario after ENG vs PAK match

Chasing 165, England’s innings got off to a disastrous start. Shaheen Shah Afridi struck with the very first ball, dismissing Phil Salt for a golden duck, and soon added the wickets of Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell.

However, Captain Harry Brook produced a brilliant knock. Promoting himself to No. 3, Brook smashed his maiden T20I century, 100 off just 51 deliveries. He became the first captain to score a hundred in a men’s T20 World Cup, single-handedly dragging England back into the contest. Brook eventually fell to a yorker from Afridi, who finished with four wickets.

England nearly choked the chase with a few reckless dismissals late in the innings. With three runs needed in the final over and two wickets in hand, Jofra Archer sealed the win with a boundary, guiding England to 166/8 in 19.1 overs, a two-wicket victory with five balls to spare. The result confirmed England as the first team to qualify for the semi-finals, while Pakistan’s hopes now depend on other results and a must-win in their final Super 8 fixture to stay alive.