Pakistan’s semi-final hopes in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 are still alive, but only if they deliver a dominant performance against Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight match on Saturday.
To qualify, Pakistan must beat Sri Lanka by at least 64 runs if batting first, or chase the target within 13 overs if Sri Lanka bat first, to surpass New Zealand on net run rate and claim the last semi-final spot from Group Two.
The scenario opened after England defeated New Zealand by four wickets on Friday at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
New Zealand had set a target of 160 runs, posting 159 for seven in 20 overs, but England chased it down in the final over, losing four wickets, and now lead Group Two with six points, having already secured their semi-final berth.
Pakistan’s qualification depends entirely on their performance against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Victory alone is insufficient, they must also achieve the required run margin to edge out New Zealand.
The game is effectively a knockout, with the Green Shirts needing both aggressive batting and tight bowling to keep their World Cup campaign alive.
The match is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. PST.
If Pakistan fails to meet the required margin, New Zealand will advance to the semi-finals with three points, ending Pakistan’s journey in the tournament.
