Pakistan openers power to commanding start against Sri Lanka

ICC Men's T20 World Cup action continued in Kandy as Pakistan’s opening pair laid a formidable platform against Sri Lanka national cricket team in their Super Eight clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 28, 2026.

After being asked to bat first, Pakistan raced to 64 without loss in the powerplay and surged to 136 for no wicket after 15 overs, with Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman firmly in control at the crease.

Farhan continued his dream run in the tournament by rewriting the record books. Entering the high-stakes encounter with 283 runs in five innings, the right-hander eclipsed Virat Kohli’s long-standing mark for most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition. He crossed the milestone with his 37th run — a boundary off Dasun Shanaka in the sixth over — surpassing Kohli’s 319-run tally from the 2014 tournament, achieved at a remarkable average of 106.33.

The elite list of prolific single-edition performers also includes Babar Azam and Sri Lankan greats Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene.

Earlier, Sri Lanka opted to field after winning the toss, hoping to exploit early conditions under lights. However, Pakistan’s openers blunted the new-ball threat with calculated aggression and clean striking.

Pakistan 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 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.

Historically, Pakistan have held the upper hand in T20 internationals between the two sides, winning 14 of their 24 meetings. In T20 World Cups, however, the rivalry remains evenly poised, with both teams claiming two victories each from four encounters.

Both sides entered the contest struggling for momentum, with just two wins apiece in their last five T20Is and no victories so far in the Super Eight stage. Sri Lanka, rooted to the bottom of Group 2 with zero points from two matches, are already out of semi-final contention.

Pakistan sit third with one point, earned through a washout against New Zealand national cricket team, and still retain a mathematical chance of reaching the knockouts. The 2009 champions must secure a victory by roughly 65 runs or chase down their target within 13 overs to overhaul New Zealand on net run rate and keep their campaign alive.