NewKerala.com

Pakistan Drops Babar Azam in Must-Win T20 WC Clash Against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first in their final Super 8s match against Pakistan. Pakistan, needing a win by 64 runs to qualify for the semifinals, made three significant changes, dropping former captain Babar Azam and Saim Ayub. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka cited the pitch and potential dew as reasons for bowling first, while also making two changes to his side. Pakistan captain Salman Agha emphasized the need for his team to perform well in all departments to seize the massive opportunity.

Key Points: Babar Azam Dropped as Pakistan Face Sri Lanka in T20 WC

  • Babar Azam dropped from playing XI
  • Pakistan must win by 64 runs to qualify
  • Sri Lanka already eliminated
  • Three changes for Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka bowl first after winning toss
3 min read

T20 WC: Babar Azam out as Sri Lanka ask Pakistan to bat in Super 8s clash

Pakistan drop Babar Azam for crucial Super 8s match. Must beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs to qualify for T20 World Cup semifinals.

"Massive opportunity. We need to bat well, bowl well, and field well, and everything will be fine. - Salman Agha"

Kandy, Feb 28

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl against Pakistan in their last match of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s played at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Saturday.

Pakistan have made big changes in the playing XI as former captain Babar Azam, who was struggling for form, has been dropped from the team, while Saim Ayub is also not included in the playing XI.

Pakistan are coming into the contest after suffering a close defeat against the two-time champions, England, on Tuesday. While on the other side, Sri Lanka have been eliminated from the tournament after suffering back-to-back defeats against England and New Zealand in their first two Super 8s matches.

Pakistan can still qualify for the semifinals if they beat Sri Lanka by a margin of 64 runs to surpass the Net Run Rate (NRR) of New Zealand.

After winning the toss, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said, "We're gonna bowl first. It is a good pitch, and later on, there might be dew as well. We got some good players in our lineup, and of course, we need to do our basics right. So yeah, we didn't do the basics well enough to pull out a win in the last two games. But here, we know we need to make it right in all three departments."

"They (the fans) still always love us regardless of whether we win or lose, so it's good motivation, I think. Thank you very much to all the fans here. So yeah, we are looking forward to the game. Two changes. Kamil Mishara comes in for Kusal Mendis, who pulled out with an injury, and Dushan Hemantha is out. Janith (Liyanage) comes in," he added.

While after losing the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Agha said, "Massive opportunity. We need to bat well, bowl well, and field well, and everything will be fine. We need to put up a good total and try to restrict them. Sometimes it can be tough, and sometimes it can be easy; it's a mixed feeling knowing what we need to do. We got three changes: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, and Salman Mirza are not playing. Naseem Shah, Khawaja Nafay, and Abrar Ahmed are playing. "

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan living in India, this is fascinating. Pakistan's team selection seems desperate. It's a must-win with a huge run margin, and they drop their most experienced batter? The pressure on the new players like Khawaja Nafay will be immense. Hope it's a good match! 🏏
A
Ananya R
Sri Lanka is already out, so they can play without pressure. That makes them dangerous. Pakistan needs to be clinical. Honestly, after their performance this tournament, I don't see them making that NRR target. The bowling attack looks good with Naseem Shah back, though.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, the Pakistan management seems to be in a panic. Changing the playing XI so drastically for a do-or-die match rarely works. Babar might be out of form, but his experience in a high-pressure chase could have been valuable. This feels like a reactive, not strategic, move.
K
Karthik V
The equation is simple but nearly impossible. Bat first, score 200+, and bowl out SL for under 136. On paper, they have the firepower with Fakhar and Afridi. But cricket isn't played on paper, yaar. Should be an interesting watch tonight!
M
Michael C
From a neutral perspective, this is great drama for the tournament. A former champion on the brink, needing a miracle. The toss going Sri Lanka's way to bowl first adds another layer. Let's see if Pakistan can pull off a heist.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50