ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction T20 WC 2026 Super 8.
Best Fantasy Cricket Team, C/VC Tips & Match Analysis
📅 February 24, 2026 | 🕖 7:00 PM LOCAL / 1:30 PM GMT | 📍 Pallekele, Sri Lanka
Introduction: Why This Match Is a Fantasy Gold Mine
Our ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction T20 World Cup 2026 for Match 45 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s at Pallekele is here — and this is not just another cricket match, it is a semi-final qualifier in all but name. Harry Brook’s England arrived in Sri Lanka as joint second-favourites to lift the trophy, and they have been quietly building momentum with an aggressive batting line-up and a razor-sharp bowling unit led by Jofra Archer.
Pakistan, on the other hand, are staring at a potential early exit. After India crushed them in the group stage and rain robbed them of points against New Zealand, Salman Ali Agha’s men must win — full stop. Their survival strategy? A five-spinner assault that ripped through Sri Lanka’s batting earlier in the tournament, collecting 26 spin wickets so far.
For Dream11 players, this fixture is packed with high-ceiling options on both sides. Will Jacks has been a one-man wrecking crew (Player of the Match in 3 out of England’s 4 wins), Sahibzada Farhan is the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 220 runs, and the powerplay impact of Jofra Archer with the new ball provides guaranteed fantasy points.
Match Information
| Detail | Info |
| Match | ENG vs PAK, 45th Match, Super 8 Group 2 |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM LOCAL | 1:30 PM GMT | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka |
| Capacity | 35,000 |
| TV Broadcast (India) | Sony Sports Network / Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar App & Website |
| Format | T20 International |
| Result Importance | ENG win = semi-final confirmed | PAK loss = near-elimination |
Pallekele Pitch Report & Fantasy Impact
| Parameter | Details |
| Pitch Nature | Balanced — batting-friendly in powerplay, slows down for spinners |
| Avg 1st Innings Score (T20) | 162–172 |
| Spin vs Pace | Spin gets more purchase after 8–10 overs; pace effective in powerplay |
| Boundary Clearing Ability | Good outfield; well-timed shots cross the rope easily |
| Dew Factor | Heavy dew expected under lights — second-innings batting significantly easier |
| Toss Advantage | Toss winner likely to bowl first to exploit dew |
| Death-Over Nature | Flat and true — expect big death-over hitting (16–20 overs) |
Fantasy Pitch Impact: This is a fresh pitch expected to play better than the England–Sri Lanka game surface. With dew expected in the second innings, death-over specialists like Sam Curran and Jofra Archer will be especially valuable. Pakistan’s spinners (Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed) will be lethal in the middle overs (7–15) before dew sets in.
Weather Update — Pallekele, Feb 24, 2026
| Parameter | Conditions |
| Temperature | ~20–31°C (evening cooling) |
| Rain Probability | ~25% (light showers possible but not match-threatening) |
| Humidity | ~80% — heavy dew likely post sunset |
| Sky | Partly cloudy; mostly fine for play |
| Wind | Light winds — no significant bearing on play |
| Match Outcome Risk | Low — full 20-over match likely on both sides |
Team Form — Last 5 T20I Results
England (WWWLW)
| # | Opponent | Result | Margin |
| 1 | Sri Lanka (Super 8) | WIN ✅ | 51 runs |
| 2 | Italy (Group) | WIN ✅ | — |
| 3 | Nepal (Group) | WIN ✅ | 4 runs (close) |
| 4 | West Indies (Group) | LOSS ❌ | — |
| 5 | Netherlands (Group) | WIN ✅ | — |
Pakistan (W · Washout · W · W · L)
| # | Opponent | Result | Margin |
| 1 | New Zealand (Super 8) | NO RESULT 🌧️ | Washed out |
| 2 | Namibia (Group) | WIN ✅ | — |
| 3 | USA (Group) | WIN ✅ | — |
| 4 | Netherlands (Group) | WIN ✅ | — |
| 5 | India (Group) | LOSS ❌ | Heavy |
Head-to-Head Record — ENG vs PAK T20Is
| Stat | England | Pakistan |
| Total T20I Matches | 31 | — |
| Wins | 21 🏆 | 9 |
| No Result | 1 | — |
| T20 World Cup Meetings | 3 – 0 ✅ | 0 |
| Last 5 T20I Meetings | 5 – 0 ✅ | 0 |
| 2022 T20 WC Final | England won by 5 wickets | — |
| Top H2H Performer | Jos Buttler — consistent big scorer vs PAK | Babar Azam — highest run scorer for PAK vs ENG |
Team News & Injury Updates
| Team | Status | Player | Note |
| England | ✅ Fit | All players | Likely unchanged XI from Sri Lanka win |
| England | 🔵 Bench | Ben Duckett, Rehan Ahmed, Josh Tongue | Not in expected XI |
| Pakistan | ⚠️ Return Possible | Shaheen Shah Afridi | Was benched vs NZ; may return vs ENG |
| Pakistan | ⚠️ Possible Drop | Faheem Ashraf | Abrar Ahmed may replace him for extra spin |
| Pakistan | ✅ Fit | All others | No fitness concerns reported in camp |
Probable Playing XIs
England XI
| # | Player | Role |
| 1 | Philip Salt | Opener / WK |
| 2 | Jos Buttler (wk) | Wicket-keeper |
| 3 | Jacob Bethell | Batter/AR |
| 4 | Tom Banton | Batter |
| 5 | Harry Brook (c) | Batter |
| 6 | Sam Curran | All-rounder |
| 7 | Will Jacks | All-rounder |
| 8 | Jamie Overton | All-rounder |
| 9 | Liam Dawson | Spin bowler |
| 10 | Jofra Archer | Fast bowler |
| 11 | Adil Rashid | Leg-spinner |
Pakistan XI (Probable)
| # | Player | Role |
| 1 | Sahibzada Farhan | Opener |
| 2 | Saim Ayub | Opener/AR |
| 3 | Salman Agha (c) | All-rounder |
| 4 | Babar Azam | Batter |
| 5 | Usman Khan (wk) | Wicket-keeper |
| 6 | Khawaja Nafay | Batter |
| 7 | Shadab Khan | Spin AR |
| 8 | Mohammad Nawaz | Spin AR |
| 9 | Faheem Ashraf / Abrar Ahmed | Bowler (TBC) |
| 10 | Salman Mirza | Pacer |
| 11 | Usman Tariq | Pacer |
Key Player Analysis
Top Batters
Philip Salt (ENG) — A powerplay impact machine, Salt provides explosive starts at Pallekele’s quick outfield. His boundary-clearing ability in the first 6 overs makes him a reliable safe pick for Dream11.
Sahibzada Farhan (PAK) 🔥 — The tournament’s leading run-scorer with 220 runs and a strike rate of 150+. Farhan tops the 2025–26 T20I run-scoring chart globally with 2295 runs. A must-have differential for Grand Leagues.
Jacob Bethell (ENG) — England’s leading run-scorer in this tournament with 146 runs in 5 matches. A composed, technically sound batter who thrives on slower Pallekele surfaces. Excellent Grand League differential.
Saim Ayub (PAK) — A high-risk, high-reward pick. Saim can explode in the powerplay and carries serious death-over-saving ability. Low ownership potential makes him a superb risky differential in Grand Leagues.
All-Rounders
Will Jacks (ENG) ⭐ — Three Player of the Match awards in this tournament. Jacks contributes both with the bat (average of 65.50) and his off-spin in the middle overs. His ability to exploit spin-friendly conditions while batting fearlessly makes him the top Captain pick in this match.
Sam Curran (ENG) — A death-over specialist with the ball and a powerful striker with the bat in the lower middle order. Curran’s economy rate under pressure is among England’s best. Excellent VC option for Small Leagues.
Shadab Khan (PAK) — With 4 wickets at 8.75 and an economy rate of 6.00, Shadab has been clinical in the middle overs. His leg-spin exploits Pakistan’s tactical substitution strategy perfectly on a pitch that grips off the surface.
Salman Ali Agha (PAK) — Pakistan’s captain and an underrated fantasy pick. Agha contributes handy overs in the middle with off-spin and bats in a crucial top-3 position. Low ownership makes him a value grand league pick.
Bowlers
Jofra Archer (ENG) ⚡ — England’s premier powerplay impact bowler. Archer has claimed 11 powerplay wickets — the second-most in the tournament. His raw pace and ability to unsettle any top order makes him a top pick regardless of conditions. A genuine must-have.
Adil Rashid (ENG) — The Rashid vs Babar Azam duel will be the match-up everyone watches. Rashid’s ability to flight the ball and extract turn from the Pallekele surface makes him a valuable middle-over specialist. Safe pick with consistent returns.
Usman Tariq (PAK) — A budget-friendly death-over specialist. Good budget pick to free up credits for premium picks elsewhere.
Abrar Ahmed (PAK) 🔄 — If Abrar replaces Faheem Ashraf, he becomes an instant must-have. His mystery spin has troubled top-order batters globally. England’s previously exposed weakness against spin could be exploited heavily by Abrar in the middle overs.
ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction T20 World Cup 2026—
Expert’s Verdict — Captain & Vice-Captain Picks
Captain (C): Will Jacks — Three Player of the Match awards tell the story. Jacks contributes with both bat and ball, and on a Pallekele surface that rewards spin in the middle overs, his off-breaks will be gold. His batting average of 65.50 this tournament seals the deal. Play him as captain in both Small and Grand Leagues.
Vice-Captain (VC): Sahibzada Farhan — The leading run-scorer of the tournament (220 runs) is in the form of his life. Farhan has played every delivery with purpose and shows zero fear against pace. Naming him VC creates a potent PAK-heavy differential that can separate your team in Grand Leagues.
Small League (Safe) Dream11 Team — ENG 7 vs PAK 4
| Role | Player | Team | Credits | C/VC |
| WK | Jos Buttler | ENG | 9 Cr | — |
| WK | Philip Salt | ENG | 8.5 Cr | — |
| BAT | Jacob Bethell | ENG | 8 Cr | — |
| BAT | Sahibzada Farhan | PAK | 8 Cr | VC |
| AR | Will Jacks | ENG | 8.5 Cr | ✅ C |
| AR | Sam Curran | ENG | 9 Cr | — |
| AR | Shadab Khan | PAK | 8.5 Cr | — |
| AR | Saim Ayub | PAK | 9 Cr | — |
| BWL | Jofra Archer | ENG | 9 Cr | — |
| BWL | Adil Rashid | ENG | 8.5 Cr | — |
| BWL | Usman Tariq | PAK | 8 Cr | — |
Grand League (Risky Differentials) Dream11 Team — ENG 6 vs PAK 5
| Role | Player | Team | Credits | C/VC |
| WK | Philip Salt | ENG | 8.5 Cr | VC |
| WK | Jos Buttler | ENG | 9 Cr | — |
| BAT | Jacob Bethell | ENG | 8 Cr | — |
| BAT | Sahibzada Farhan | PAK | 8 Cr | ✅ C |
| BAT | Babar Azam | PAK | 8 Cr | — |
| AR | Saim Ayub | PAK | 9 Cr | — |
| AR | Will Jacks | ENG | 8.5 Cr | — |
| AR | Shadab Khan | PAK | 8.5 Cr | — |
| BWL | Jofra Archer | ENG | 9 Cr | — |
| BWL | Adil Rashid | ENG | 8.5 Cr | — |
| BWL | Usman Tariq | PAK | 8 Cr | — |
Player Categories Quick Reference
| Category | Players |
| ✅ Must-Have (Safe) | Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Sahibzada Farhan, Sam Curran, Philip Salt |
| 🔴 Risky (High Ceiling) | Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Abrar Ahmed (if playing), Jacob Bethell |
| 🎯 Top C/VC | C: Will Jacks | VC: Sam Curran / S Farhan |
| 💰 Budget Picks | Usman Tariq (8 Cr), Liam Dawson (if included), Salman Mirza |
Match Prediction — ENG vs PAK
England Win Probability: 62% | Pakistan Win Probability: 38%
England’s biggest edge is their familiarity with Pallekele — four wins in four matches at this venue in 2026. Harry Brook’s squad has four spin options, blended with the express pace of Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton’s hit-the-deck-hard style, giving them a perfectly balanced attack for these conditions.
Pakistan’s trump card is their five-spinner arsenal. Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, and Usman Tariq together provide varied, high-quality spin options that have taken 26 wickets in the tournament. England have already lost 21 wickets to spin in this World Cup, showing a potential vulnerability.
Final Prediction: England win by 15–25 runs or 4–5 wickets. Their depth, venue knowledge, and the psychological weight of never having lost to Pakistan in T20 World Cups tips the balance. However, back Pakistan’s spinners to put up a genuine fight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who will win the ENG vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match?
England are the favourites with a win probability of approximately 62%. They hold a 21-9 all-time T20I advantage over Pakistan and have won all three previous T20 World Cup meetings. Their familiarity with Pallekele (4 wins from 4 at this venue in 2026) gives them a real home-away-from-home edge. However, Pakistan’s five-spinner arsenal and the in-form Sahibzada Farhan make them a dangerous upset candidate.
Q2. Who are the best Dream11 picks for ENG vs PAK today?
The best picks are Will Jacks (3x Player of the Match this tournament), Jofra Archer (powerplay specialist, 11 powerplay wickets), Sahibzada Farhan (tournament’s leading run-scorer, 220 runs), and Sam Curran (death-over specialist). These four cover all skill categories and are must-haves across team combinations.
Q3. Who should be Captain and Vice-Captain in ENG vs PAK Dream11?
Captain: Will Jacks — three Player of the Match awards in four England wins this tournament, contributes with both off-spin and attacking batting. Vice-Captain: Sam Curran (for Small Leagues — safer floor) or Sahibzada Farhan (for Grand Leagues — high ceiling, lower ownership). Avoid Jos Buttler as C/VC despite his reputation — he’s averaging under 15 this tournament.
Q4. What is the Pallekele pitch report for ENG vs PAK?
Pallekele offers a balanced surface that starts as a good batting wicket with the outfield allowing easy boundary clearance in the powerplay, but slows down to help spinners in the middle overs. Average first innings scores range between 162–172. Heavy dew under lights gives the chasing team a significant advantage, which means the toss winner will likely bowl first. A first innings score of 190+ is considered safe to defend.
Q5. What is the current form of England and Pakistan ahead of this Super 8 clash?
England are in excellent form — WWWLW in their last five T20Is, with a dominant 51-run win over Sri Lanka in their Super 8 opener. Pakistan’s form is mixed: they lost heavily to India in the group stage, but beat Netherlands, USA, and Namibia comfortably. Their Super 8 opener against New Zealand was washed out, leaving them without a completed result in the Super 8s.
Q6. What is an alternative Dream11 team for ENG vs PAK Grand Leagues?
Alternative Grand League Team: P Salt (C), S Farhan (VC), J Bethell, Babar Azam, S Ayub, S Curran, S Khan (Shadab), W Jacks, J Archer, U Tariq, Abrar Ahmed (if playing). This team increases the PAK ratio to 5:6 and banks on Farhan’s form + Pakistan’s spinners. It’s a high-risk, high-reward team that can separate you from the pack if Pakistan’s spinners fire early.
⚠️ Disclaimer
Fantasy cricket involves financial risk. This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Please play responsibly. This prediction is based on publicly available match data, player form, and tactical analysis. Playing XIs are subject to change — always verify after the toss. Dream11 is legal only in select states/regions — check your local laws before participating.
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