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In a bold tactical move, Pakistan has omitted star batter Babar Azam from the playing XI for their high-stakes T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Pakistan drop Babar Azam Super 8 clash against Sri Lanka
Facing a do-or-die scenario, Salman Agha’s side requires a victory margin of at least 64 runs to secure a spot in the semifinals. This steep qualification hurdle prompted team management to swap Babar for the more aggressive Khawaja Nafay in hopes of injecting much-needed scoring impetus into the lineup.
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The decision follows a period of uncharacteristic struggles for Babar, the all-time leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals. Despite being brought into the squad by coach Mike Hesson specifically to neutralise spin during the middle overs, he has managed only 91 runs across four innings this tournament. With a top score of just 46 and a strike rate of 112.34, his conservative approach was deemed insufficient for the team's current mathematical requirements.
Babar isn't the only casualty of this reshuffle; opener Saim Ayub has also been dropped after a lean run of 70 runs in five innings. To balance the side for the Pallekele conditions, Pakistan has brought in spinner Abrar Ahmed to replace Ayub, while bolstering the pace attack by swapping left-arm seamer Salman Mirza for the experienced Naseem Shah.
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Meanwhile, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan. They also made two changes to their playing XI. Kamil Mishara and Janith Liyanage walked into their fold in place of Kusal Mendis and Dushan Hemantha.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, after winning the toss, said:
"We 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 for all the fans here. So yeah, we are looking forward to the game. Two changes. Kamil Mishara comes in for Kusal Mendis, he pulled out with the injury, and Dushan Hemantha out, Janith (Liyanage) comes in."
Meanwhile Pakistan skipper Salman Agha, after winning losing the toss, said:
"It’s a massive opportunity. We just need to play a perfect game, bowl well, bat well, and field well, and I think everything will be fine. Yeah, we would have bowled first definitely, but there is no way we can do that while batting. So you just need to put up a good total and try to restrict them. It’s a mix, (knowing the calculations) to be very honest. Sometimes it can be tough and sometimes it’s easy. You have the freedom to go and just play shots or you know what you need to do. But yeah, it’s a mixed kind of a thing. We’ll just try to play a perfect game and I think the rest will be fine. Yeah, we got three changes. Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, and Salman Mirza are not playing. Naseem Shah, Khawaja Nafay, and Abrar Ahmed are playing."
Pakistan's Playing XI:
Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
Sri Lanka's Playing XI:
Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara(w), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka
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