Both teams are out of the semis. Yet this match still matters.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan meet in the final Super 8 Group 2 game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Pallekele on February 28.
Pride is on the line. So is the finishing position.
For Sri Lanka, this is an emotional farewell on home soil. For Pakistan, it is a last shot at something positive after a rough run.
Two desperate teams, one ground, one game. The cricket will be intense.
SL vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today Super 8 Match 10
If you are building your SL vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today team, this guide covers everything: pitch conditions, player form, injury news, and expert picks to help you make smart calls.
Quick Summary Box:
- Match: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup Super 8 Match 10
- Date: February 28, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM IST
- Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
- Both teams eliminated from semi-finals
- Toss preference: Bat first
- Key absences: Hasaranga and Pathirana (Sri Lanka, injured)
Key Highlights:
- Sri Lanka is at the bottom of Group 2 with zero points
- Pakistan has one point from a rain-hit washout versus New Zealand
- Sahibzada Farhan scored the only century for Pakistan in this tournament
- Usman Tariq leads Pakistan’s wicket column with 10 tournament wickets
- Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage carry Sri Lanka’s spin attack
- Pallekele favors batting first, with spinners dominating the middle overs
Match Preview: What Is at Stake?
This is the last Super 8 Group 2 game for both sides. Neither team will reach the semi-finals.
A Pakistan win here gives them three points and a finish above Sri Lanka. A Sri Lanka win sends the home crowd home happy.
Pakistan’s campaign was a mix of promise and disappointment. They earned one point from the washed-out New Zealand game.
They lost to England, where Harry Brook’s century sealed their fate. Farhan’s hundred was brilliant, but it did not get them over the line in the bigger picture.
Sri Lanka lost to England by 51 runs and to New Zealand by 61 runs. Tough defeats on home soil, both. Shanaka’s side now gets one last chance to do something right in front of their own fans.
Honestly, matches with nothing at stake often produce the best cricket. Both sides play freely. That is good news for anyone watching and anyone picking a SL vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today team.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Pallekele track is a proper two-paced wicket. It rewards batters early and then makes life difficult as the game goes on.
In the powerplay, the pitch carries pace well. Openers can drive through the line and hit boundaries with confidence. Seamers find swing if there is morning or evening moisture around. That matters here because this is an evening game.
By the middle overs, the surface slows. Spinners become dangerous. The ball grips, turns, and stops. England bowled Sri Lanka out for just 95 on this pitch in this tournament. That tells you everything about what this track can do.
The average first-innings score sits around 165 to 170. Setting a total and defending it is the safer plan at Pallekele.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Balanced; batter-friendly early, slows for spinners |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 165-170 in T20Is |
| Pace vs Spin | Pace helpful early; spinners dominant in middle overs |
| Toss Factor | Batting first holds a clear advantage |
| Boundary Size | Standard outfield, 35,000 capacity stadium |
Weather Report: Kandy on February 28
Kandy is a hill-country city. Mountain showers are always a threat in late February. Expect temperatures around 24 to 27 degrees Celsius.
Humidity will be high, around 75 to 80 percent. That makes it feel heavy for fast bowlers working through long spells.
There is a chance of brief showers. A full washout looks unlikely based on current forecasts in Kandy, but interruptions are possible.
Dew will settle during the second innings, which makes bowling grip harder for spinners. That could tilt things toward the team chasing if they survive the powerplay.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24-27°C during the match |
| Sky | Partly cloudy; cloud cover builds after sunset |
| Rain Chance | Brief showers possible; washout unlikely |
| Humidity | Around 75-80% |
| Dew Factor | Likely to build through the second innings |
Toss Prediction
Batting first makes sense at Pallekele. The pitch is true and even early. The ball comes onto the bat. Batters can play their natural game.
But there is a dew factor to consider. In the second innings, the ball gets wet, and spinners struggle to grip it.
A chasing team benefits from that. The toss winner faces a real choice.
Sri Lanka relies heavily on spin. Having runs to defend suits them. Pakistan’s pace attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, can swing the ball late in the innings. That helps them when bowling second.
My read: The toss winner bats first and targets 170-plus.
Injury Updates
Sri Lanka enters this match short-handed. Two big names are out.
- Wanindu Hasaranga (unavailable, injury): Their best all-round option and a leading wicket-taker. His absence is a serious blow to Sri Lanka’s attack and lower-order batting.
- Matheesha Pathirana (ruled out, injury): The slingy right-arm quick who batters find so hard to pick. Losing him reduces Sri Lanka’s pace firepower.
These are not minor absences. Both players would have been automatic starters. Sri Lanka has to find answers without them.
Pakistan: No fresh injury concerns. Salman Agha’s squad is fit and available.
Head-to-Head Records: SL vs PAK in T20Is
Pakistan holds a strong edge in this format. They have won 14 of the 24 T20Is between these sides. Sri Lanka has won 10.
In T20 World Cup history, Pakistan famously beat Sri Lanka in the 2009 final at Lord’s. That remains one of the most celebrated wins in Pakistan cricket history.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Matches | 24 |
| Pakistan Wins | 14 |
| Sri Lanka Wins | 10 |
Last Five T20I Meetings
- Sri Lanka won by 14 runs (January 11, 2026)
- Match abandoned without a ball bowled (January 9, 2026)
- Pakistan won by 6 wickets (January 7, 2026)
- Pakistan won by 6 wickets (November 29, 2025)
- Sri Lanka won by 6 runs (November 27, 2025)
The recent head-to-head is split. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in their last completed meeting in January. This is a genuine contest.
SL vs PAK Dream11 Prediction: Top Player Picks
Here are the players to target for your SL vs PAK Dream11 Prediction team. Each pick is backed by form, role, and ground conditions.
| Player | Team | Role | Why Pick Them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | Sri Lanka | Opener | 208 runs in this tournament; knows Pallekele well |
| Kusal Mendis | Sri Lanka | Wicketkeeper | Three half-centuries; dangerous in the middle order |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Sri Lanka | Spinner | 8 wickets in the series; leads spin attack without Hasaranga |
| Dunith Wellalage | Sri Lanka | Spinner | 7 wickets; left-arm spin is a big weapon on this surface |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Pakistan | Opener | Pakistan’s only centurion this tournament, in outstanding form |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | Batter | World-class batter looking to finish the tournament well |
| Usman Tariq | Pakistan | Spinner | 10 wickets in the tournament; dangerous on this surface |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | Bowler | 7 wickets; lethal with the new ball in the powerplay |
Expert Analysis: Who Has the Edge?
This is a tricky one to call. On paper, Pakistan has the stronger squad right now.
They are fully fit. Sri Lanka is missing two of their best players.
But home conditions are a genuine advantage. Pallekele is Sri Lanka’s fortress. The crowd will be loud and behind the home team.
Theekshana and Wellalage know this surface better than any Pakistan spinner does.
Pakistan’s batting looks solid. Farhan has been the standout player of the tournament for them. If he fires again, Pakistan has the firepower to set or chase big totals.
Babar Azam has had a quieter tournament by his standards. He will want to sign off with a big innings.
My honest take: Pakistan wins this match. Their depth and fitness advantage are too hard to ignore. Expect Farhan and Babar to post a solid total, and the pace attack to defend it despite the dew. SL vs PAK Super 8 Match 10 Dream11 Prediction leans Pakistan-heavy for this reason.
That said, cricket at Pallekele is never straightforward. If Theekshana and Wellalage find the right lengths early in the Pakistan innings, Sri Lanka can restrict them and make a chase of it.
Recommended Dream11 Team Combination
Suggested XI for SL vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today Match:
- Pathum Nissanka (C option)
- Kusal Mendis
- Babar Azam
- Sahibzada Farhan (C option)
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Dunith Wellalage
- Usman Tariq
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Plus three squad picks based on your platform
- Captain pick: Pathum Nissanka or Sahibzada Farhan. Both are in form and bat at the top.
- Vice-captain pick: Usman Tariq. Ten wickets in the tournament on a spinning Pallekele track is a serious number.
You can compare player credits and team value on the Dream11 platform directly before finalizing your team.
FAQs
- Who is the best captain pick for SL vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today?
Pathum Nissanka and Sahibzada Farhan are the top captain options. Nissanka has 208 runs in the tournament and knows Pallekele well. Farhan scored Pakistan’s only century and is in outstanding touch.
- Will rain affect the SL vs PAK Super 8 Match 10?
Brief showers are possible in Kandy on February 28. A full washout looks unlikely. Dew will build during the second innings, so teams may prefer to bat first.
- Who are the key players missing for Sri Lanka in this match?
Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana are both out with injuries. These are two of Sri Lanka’s most important players. Their absence weakens Sri Lanka’s attack badly.
- Is Pallekele good for batting or bowling in T20Is?
It is balanced but favors batting first. The pitch is true early, and spinners dominate the middle overs. The average first-innings score here is around 165 to 170.
- What is the head-to-head record between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in T20Is?
Pakistan leads 14 to 10 in 24 T20I matches. Sri Lanka won their last completed meeting in January 2026 by 14 runs.
Conclusion:
This may look like a dead-rubber game. Both teams are out. But for the players, the fans at Pallekele, and everyone building their SL vs PAK Dream11 Prediction team, this match still carries real meaning.
Sri Lanka fight for pride on home soil without two key players. Pakistan fights for a positive finish to a mixed campaign. The pitch, the dew, and the crowd all play a role.
Back Farhan, Nissanka, Tariq, and the two Sri Lanka spinners in your fantasy side. Go Pakistan-heavy in captain options. And enjoy what should be a competitive T20 match at one of the best grounds in Asia.
For full live scores and match updates, check ESPNcricinfo or the ICC’s official match center.
Always play responsibly on fantasy platforms. Stats are based on available tournament data.
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