T20 World Cup 2026 [WATCH]: Super 8 showdown in Pallekele turns ugly as England and Pakistan fans engage in physical altercation

The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy witnessed a rollercoaster of emotions on Tuesday England recorded a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 45th game of the T20 World Cup. While the Super Eights, the Group 2 encounter, provided high-octane cricket that saw Harry Brook etching his name into the history books, the evening was unfortunately marred by a violent physical altercation in the stands that has since gone viral.

Tensions run high as England and Pakistan supporters fight during the Super 8 match

Despite the festive atmosphere typical of Sri Lankan cricket centres, tensions reached breaking point midway through the innings. An ugly brawl broke out between some of the traveler England supporters and Pakistani fans, with a specific focus on a spectator identified as Saud. Video footage captured by onlookers shows a heated verbal exchange that quickly escalates into a physical scuffle, forcing local Sri Lankan security and nearby onlookers to intervene to prevent serious injury.

The incident received massive digital attention after an Australian influencer Jake Jennings shared the images on social media. Jennings labeled Saud as a “serial offender”, claiming that he had witnessed the person causing similar disruptions earlier in the tournament, and publicly urged International Cricket Council (ICC) to introduce a stadium ban.

Saud, however, gave a very different account of the provocation. Speaking to local reporters after being escorted from the section, he claimed that the England supporters were the aggressors, claiming they “misbehaved” and threw beer at him, an act he described as a deep personal and cultural insult. Although the ICC and Pallekele Stadium authorities are yet to issue a formal disciplinary statement, the footage has sparked a heated debate over fan behavior and safety protocols for the remainder of the knockout stages.

Here’s the video:

Play crazy games, win crazy prizes.

Serial offender. Time for the @ICC take a stand. #cricket #worldcup pic.twitter.com/pdbrAG13tY

— Jake Jeakings (@JakeJeakings1) February 24, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Irfan Pathan slams Pakistani media after England defeat throws their campaign into crisis

Harry Brook’s historic tone guides England to the semi-finals

On the field the story was dominated by a masterclass from England captain Brook. After Pakistan opted to bat first, they posted a competitive 164/9. Sahibzada Farhan was the standout performer for the Men in Green, continuing his golden run with a gritty 63 off 45 balls. While Babar Azam (25) had difficulty with timing, Liam Dawson‘s clinical spell of 24/3 kept Pakistan’s middle order in check.

England’s chase began in nightmarish fashion. Shaheen Shah Afridi produced a distinctive opening burst, causing it to be removed Phil Salt for a golden duck with the first ball of the innings before it was taken into account As Butler And Jacob Bethel. As the scoreboard wobbled, Brook promoted himself to No. 3, a tactical gamble that paid off in spectacular fashion.

Brook achieved a breathtaking 100 from just 51 deliveries to become the first ever captain to score a century in a T20 Men’s World Cup. His maiden T20I hundred turned the tide, although a late-innings collapse saw him fall to a blistering Afridi yorker. With three runs needed in the final and nerves frayed, Jofra Sagittarius kept his composure to smash a boundary, ending the match at 166/8 with five balls to spare.

This win officially makes England the first team to qualify for the semi-finals, while Pakistan must now win their final match and rely on the net run-rate math to keep their trophy dreams alive.

Also READ: Pakistan’s qualification scenario for 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final after falling to England in Super 8