Saturday 28 / February / 2026
PALLEKELE: Pakistan were knocked out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 despite a narrow five-run win over Sri Lanka in the Super Eight clash in Kandy on Saturday.
A record partnership by Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan powered Pakistan to 212/8, but they needed to restrict Sri Lanka for 147 to make the cut. However, the co-hosts scripted a miracle recovery from 94/4, taking the contest to a nail-biting finish, before falling short at 207/6 in 20 overs.
The result means New Zealand qualify through superior net run-rate, and join England and South Africa in the semi-finals. The winner of Sunday’s Super Eight clash between India and West Indies will complete the knockouts line-up.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to field first. Going into the key clash, Pakistan decided to drop former captain Babar Azam. On a day they needed quick runs, Pakistan’s new opening duo of Zaman and Farhan stepped in with intent. Zaman set the ball rolling with a boundary in the cow corner. Not to be outdone, Farhan timed a ball to perfection between cover and point.
It was game on. On a flat track at the Pallekele, Pakistan batters brought the house down with one hit after another. The team breezed past through the check posts, 64 in powerplay, 100 inside 10 overs, 150 in 14 overs, and 200 in the 19th over. They put on an opening stand of 176, the highest for any wicket in T20 World Cups.
Pakistan’s premier batter this World Cup, Farhan also notched a few personal records. Scoring 100 off 60 balls, Farhan became the only batter to hoist two centuries at a single edition of a T20 world event. During his innings, Farhan also overtook India’s Virat Kohli for most runs in one T20WC edition. He has accumulated 383 runs so far, beating Kohli’s tally of 319, which he had achieved during World T20 in Bangladesh in 2013/14.
Promoted up the order, Zaman matched his partners shot for shot. He brought up his fifty in 27 balls with a four. Dushmantha Chameera gave Pakistan the breakthrough, as he castled Zaman, who had slammed nine fours and four sixes in an explosive innings of 84.
But Pakistan faltered once Zaman was dismissed, losing eight wickets for just 34 runs in less than five overs.
Dilshan Madushanka made sure Pakistan did not accelerate towards the end, as he claimed three wickets, including that of Farhan.
Defending 147, Pakistan made a decent start as they held Sri Lanka held to 49/2 in powerplay. Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed marked their return to the playing XI with early wickets. Pacer Shah provided the breakthrough as he had the in-form Pathum Nissanka mishit a slower ball to extra cover after stepping away and making room.
It was Ahmed who pegged Sri Lanka back with three crucial wickets. He started his spell by castling Kamil Mishara and ended it by getting through the defence of Kamindu Mendis off a ball that stayed low. In between, he also clean bowled the experienced Charith Asalanka and finished with incredible figures of 3/23.
Down and out at 101/5, Sri Lanka roared back to life with a 59-run partnership between captain Dasun Shanaka and Pavan Rathnayake. While it was Rathnayake’s swashbuckling 58, with the help of four fours and three sixes, helped them sink their teeth into the contest, it was Shanaka who took them to the brink of victory.
Brief scores: Pakistan 212/8 (Sahibzada Farhan 100, Fakhar Zaman 84; Dilshan Madhushanka 3/33, Dasun Shanaka 2/42) beat Sri Lanka 207/6 (Pavan Rathnayake 58, Dasun Shanaka 76*; Abrar Ahmed 3/23).
