Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha celebrates with teammates after dismissing India’s Abhishek Sharma on the R Premadasa Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Colombo on February 15, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS
PALLEKELE:
Pakistan on Monday warned England’s inconsistent batting line-up to count on a trial by spin when the groups conflict within the T20 World Cup Tremendous Eights.
Pakistan batsman Sahibzada Farhan advised reporters that England struggled to 146-9 in opposition to Sri Lanka’s spinners on Sunday.
Farhan mentioned that England can count on extra of the identical from Pakistan’s spinners after they meet on the identical Pallekele floor in Kandy on Tuesday evening.
Pakistan desperately want a win after their first match in opposition to New Zealand was washed out.
A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka for 95 to win by 51 runs, by means of to the semi-finals with a sport to spare.
Pakistan would then must beat Sri Lanka of their remaining Tremendous Eights match and hope different outcomes go their strategy to attain the final 4.
“What we noticed within the Sri Lanka-England sport was that the ball was gripping and England struggled in opposition to spin,” mentioned the in-form opener Farhan on Monday.
“Sri Lanka have one or two spinners however we now have 5 in all so we are going to give England a tricky time on a pitch that appears good and can grip,” mentioned Farhan.
Pakistan’s spinners have taken 26 wickets within the 4 matches thus far. Their seamers have dismissed solely seven batsmen.
Historical past can be in opposition to Pakistan as they’ve by no means crushed England in three earlier Twenty20 World Cup clashes.
“We’re assured and our morale is excessive,” mentioned Farhan, who scored an unbeaten 100 in opposition to Namibia in Pakistan’s remaining group match.
“We’re centered on this match to win and progress.”
Farhan, who tops the T20 World Cup run-scoring chart with 220, mentioned he was prepared for the specter of England’s specific tempo bowler Jofra Archer.
“Dealing with Archer is not going to be troublesome as a result of I’ve confronted related bowlers in Pakistan,” mentioned Farhan.
“So if he has plans in opposition to me, I even have plans in opposition to him.”
Pakistan are doubtless to usher in spinner Abrar Ahmed rather than seaming all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.
England could title an unchanged facet for the fifth match in succession with Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Jacob Bethell offering their spin choices.
Sri Lanka and New Zealand are the 2 different groups in Pakistan and England’s Tremendous Eights group. They face one another in Colombo on Wednesday.
The highest two groups will qualify for the semi-finals.
