Not Babar Azam! Ravichandran Ashwin names player who can win Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan will play their second match of Super 8 against England on February 24, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Balagolla. Ahead of the match, former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin suggests the Pakistan team management include Fakhar Zaman in their playing combination.

The subcontinental conditions often help the spinners to be effective in matches. Today's match in Balagolla is expected not to be an exception. Against Pakistan, England spinner Adil Rashid can take a decisive role.

Tips from Ravichandran Ashwin to Pakistan ahead of the England match of the Super 8

Ravichandran Ashwin suggests the Men in Green show trust in the proven batter Fakhar Zaman, who is yet to play his first match in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Ashwin chose to go with Zaman because of his technical abilities against spinners. For example, the former cricketer mentioned the England vs Nepal match, which was held in the Group stage.

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Nepal went very close to pulling off an upset on February 8 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Chasing a target of 185, Nepal managed to get 180. England might have won the match, but the batters of Nepal discovered the path to counter Adil Rashid. In this match, the experienced spinner delivered 3 overs and remained wicketless, leaking 42 runs.

Why did Ashwin urge the arch-rivals to play Fakhar Zaman against England?

Sharing a wagon wheel from the match, Ravichandran Ashwin asks the Salman Ali Agha-led team to put Fakhar Zaman in their middle order only to counter Rashid. Nepal batters targeted the square of the fields to neutralise Adil Rashid. Zaman can play a lot of square, by unleashing some sweep shots. Ravichandran Ashwin asks Agha and his boys to take a close look at England's match against Nepal.

"If Pakistan is serious about this World Cup campaign, they need to think about giving Fakhar Zaman a go in the middle order. He can sweep and use his feet against Rashid and Dawson to inflict some serious damage through the middle overs", Ashwin wrote in his 'X' post.

"This was Nepal's success formula against Rashid and there are some key learning’s that the other teams can try to imbibe. Access the square boundaries to earn balls in the step hit zone", he added.

If Pakistan is serious about this World Cup campaign, they need to think about giving Fakhar Zaman a go in the middle order.

He can sweep and use his feet against Rashid and Dawson to inflict some serious damage through the middle overs.

This was Nepal's success foformulapic.twitter.com/QMAhQm2GZR

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 24, 2026

Liam Dawson clinched 6 wickets so far

Rashid will be accompanied by Liam Dawson, another English spinner, against Pakistan. Dawson, 35, is in decent form with the national team in the T20 World Cup 2026.

In 5 matches, he took 6 wickets, a brace against Nepal, Scotland, and Sri Lanka. The Pakistani batters will have to handle the opposing spinners to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

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