The collective misconception that Sri Lankan wickets will be spin friendly in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

[Rana]

This needs to be pointed out. For months since it was agreed that Pakistan will be playing their matches on spin friendly decks.

I feel this is simply a smokescreen pushed by the journalists, particular members of the management and ex cricketers to somehow preserve the spot of 1-2 outdated players in the T20 format.

Firstly, what is the conclusive proof that these decks at SSC, Premadasa and later Pellekele will be spin conducive and completely different to the batting friendly conditions that we will see in India? Are we once again committing the mistake of taking things for granted without proof, only to be absolutely stunned when the actual event takes place?

Secondly, why are the PCB/players/management/ ex cricketers who push agendas are under this false perception that the ICC will roll out decks for Pakistan to compete and cruise through to the semi finals? Pakistan in the recent past have played their hand in which they have shown that the level of their competition is not on par with the top sides of world cricket if the tracks do not offer extra help to their pacers or spinners. The batsman are still clueless on how to approach and set up totals above 180 considering they have 1 or 2 players who are adamant to waste deliveries at the top of the order to get their eye in at the crease! A chase of 9+ runs per over regardless of the track would mean Pakistan are likes to make a complete hash of it.

Why would the ICC want one semi final and potential final in Sri Lanka when they could have all 3 (semis and final) in India? Isn’t it in their best interest to roll out complete batting friendly decks in Sri Lanka for Pakistan’s matches?

 

[Major]

How is it a misconception?

Are you saying Srilanka will have wickets similar to Australia, South Africa and England? Lol

Everyone knows from historical perspective that lankan wickets are slow and offer help to spinners more.

Even if the wicket is more batting friendly, even than adding pacer on a flat wicket is more dangerous as the pace allows batting to be more easier on a flat wicket.

Even on a flat wicket, your option is still going to be spin.

 

[Rana]

Are you saying Srilanka will have wickets similar to Australia, South Africa and England? Lol

With all due respect, how are you in a position to rationally ask this question when we have you on record admitting you feel 40-0 at the end of the powerplay is better than 66-1? We have seen you promoting a top 3 of Babar, Rizwan and Shan Masood for Australian conditions!!! We are witness to this!!

You reiterate my point! You are part of that group/mindset that is pushing this smokescreen to preserve crap players for this format!

 

[Nikhil_cric]

This needs to be pointed out. For months since it was agreed that Pakistan will be playing their matches on spin friendly decks.

I feel this is simply a smokescreen pushed by the journalists, particular members of the management and ex cricketers to somehow preserve the spot of 1-2 outdated players in the T20 format.

Firstly, what is the conclusive proof that these decks at SSC, Premadasa and later Pellekele will be spin conducive and completely different to the batting friendly conditions that we will see in India? Are we once again committing the mistake of taking things for granted without proof, only to be absolutely stunned when the actual event takes place?

Secondly, why are the PCB/players/management/ ex cricketers who push agendas are under this false perception that the ICC will roll out decks for Pakistan to compete and cruise through to the semi finals? Pakistan in the recent past have played their hand in which they have shown that the level of their competition is not on par with the top sides of world cricket if the tracks do not offer extra help to their pacers or spinners. The batsman are still clueless on how to approach and set up totals above 180 considering they have 1 or 2 players who are adamant to waste deliveries at the top of the order to get their eye in at the crease! A chase of 9+ runs per over regardless of the track would mean Pakistan are likes to make a complete hash of it.

Why would the ICC want one semi final and potential final in Sri Lanka when they could have all 3 (semis and final) in India? Isn’t it in their best interest to roll out complete batting friendly decks in Sri Lanka for Pakistan’s matches?

They are not always low and slow. But they won't be as high scoring as some of the Indian venues.

To be honest, it doesn't matter. Pakistan should pick their best bowlers in their 15

The difference between India and SL is not as big as ,say, India and early season Southern Hemisphere pitches in terms of bounce and seam movement .

However, 185 + won't be scored in the 2nd innings at any of these 3 venues , for the most part because the grounds are bigger, outfields are slower and dew has little impact in SL conditions

 

[Major]

The only smokescreen here is the 100th babar/rizwan thread that has popped up.

We get it, you dont want them in the team. Dont understand the need to make a new thread on it everyweek with a different sugar coat to it

 

[Major]

With all due respect, how are you in a position to rationally ask this question when we have you on record admitting you feel 40-0 at the end of the powerplay is better than 66-1? We have seen you promoting a top 3 of Babar, Rizwan and Shan Masood for Australian conditions!!! We are witness to this!!

You reiterate my point! You are part of that group/mindset that is pushing this smokescreen to preserve crap players for this format!

Australian conditions required strike rotation and fitness as in those grounds you need to convert 2s into 3s. Boundary hitting there was more difficult and Shan was doing decently in the australian world t20.

Over in lanka, rizwan needs to bat in lower order and babar seems to done and dusted so drop him

 

[cricfan432]

even if there are spin conditions, there wont be slow pitches for sure, which pcb has made throughout vs sa and tri series

 

[Kianig89]

So what is the solution for this , OP should give his expert opinion other than dropping Babar since Rizwan is already out of contention

 

[shamaan]

Pick your best 15 according to the conditions.

 

[Kianig89]

Good bowlers don't rely solely on conditions , even on a flat wicket the opposition can be restricted to a manageable Total.

Sometimes a batter from opposition plays a blinder even then the world class bowlers become helpless

 

[RidiculousMan]

This needs to be pointed out. For months since it was agreed that Pakistan will be playing their matches on spin friendly decks.

I feel this is simply a smokescreen pushed by the journalists, particular members of the management and ex cricketers to somehow preserve the spot of 1-2 outdated players in the T20 format.

Firstly, what is the conclusive proof that these decks at SSC, Premadasa and later Pellekele will be spin conducive and completely different to the batting friendly conditions that we will see in India? Are we once again committing the mistake of taking things for granted without proof, only to be absolutely stunned when the actual event takes place?

Secondly, why are the PCB/players/management/ ex cricketers who push agendas are under this false perception that the ICC will roll out decks for Pakistan to compete and cruise through to the semi finals? Pakistan in the recent past have played their hand in which they have shown that the level of their competition is not on par with the top sides of world cricket if the tracks do not offer extra help to their pacers or spinners. The batsman are still clueless on how to approach and set up totals above 180 considering they have 1 or 2 players who are adamant to waste deliveries at the top of the order to get their eye in at the crease! A chase of 9+ runs per over regardless of the track would mean Pakistan are likes to make a complete hash of it.

Why would the ICC want one semi final and potential final in Sri Lanka when they could have all 3 (semis and final) in India? Isn’t it in their best interest to roll out complete batting friendly decks in Sri Lanka for Pakistan’s matches?

The proof is the last T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, their recent home matches and the fact that in ICC WT20s. The average score goes down than in bilateral series.

 

[Ali Active]

Pakistan is winning this worldcup

 

[Rana]

The proof is the last T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, their recent home matches and the fact that in ICC WT20s. The average score goes down than in bilateral series.

What year was that?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

They will be a bit lower and slower than Indian pitches.

Indian pitches are likely to be complete phattas

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Good bowlers don't rely solely on conditions , even on a flat wicket the opposition can be restricted to a manageable Total.

Sometimes a batter from opposition plays a blinder even then the world class bowlers become helpless

Manageable total varies from batting unit to batting unit.

I feel kike bowlers get a lot of flack. They are often defending scores that are under par. Batting gets away Scott free

 

[Nikhil_cric]

They will be a bit lower and slower than Indian pitches.

Indian pitches are likely to be complete phattas

Indian pitches vary more than anywhere else in the world.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Indian pitches vary more than anywhere else in the world.

For limited over games, especially t20 seem to be phattas

 

[jnaveen1980]

For limited over games, especially t20 seem to be phattas

Wankhede, Chinnaswamy, Rajiv Gandhi stadium, hyderbad, Delhi they are pattas. Chennai, Jaipurm Mullanpur wickets are not straight forward. Eden Gardens can go either way.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Indian pitches vary more than anywhere else in the world.

They're not but are mostly phattas in T20s.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

For limited over games, especially t20 seem to be phattas

It's never been the case especially in world tournaments. Even in the last World T20 and the 50 over World Cup, the pitches werent all belters, especially not at the back end.

 

[jnaveen1980]

In world cups i say par score will be around 170 to 190. On some grounds like Hyderabad it might exceed 200. Guwhati is another high scoring venue. It is no different from supersport park at the centurion where average scoring rate is 9.61.

Srilanka

Pallekele average scoring rate 8.35
Dambulla 7.96
SSC 7.9
Premadasa 7.59
Rajapaksa international 6.83
P Sara oval 5


Majority of the matches in SL happens either at Pallekele or Premadasa..

48 premadasa
27 Pallekele
9 Dambulla
7 Hambantota
2 SSC
2 P Sara

As far as world cup goes 13 matches will happen during Srilanakn leg. 8 matches are going to happen at RPS 5 matches at SSC. Just 2 grounds.

 

[Rana]

Australian conditions required strike rotation and fitness as in those grounds you need to convert 2s into 3s. Boundary hitting there was more difficult and Shan was doing decently in the australian world t20

Again, a load of b.s

We are all watching the BBL. Australian wickets reward those who are willing to take the game on and give the ball a whack! It flies here as long as you are ready to take it on! Not with the nonsense defensive mindset we have seen of the these fraud T20 batters!

We have had enough of these made up theories of what works and what doesn’t work in places made up by those who are preserving and protecting these crap T20 batters!

 

[Rana]

In world cups i say par score will be around 170 to 190. On some grounds like Hyderabad it might exceed 200. Guwhati is another high scoring venue. It is no different from supersport park at the centurion where average scoring rate is 9.61.

Srilanka

Pallekele average scoring rate 8.35
Dambulla 7.96
SSC 7.9
Premadasa 7.59
Rajapaksa international 6.83
P Sara oval 5


Majority of the matches in SL happens either at Pallekele or Premadasa..

48 premadasa
27 Pallekele
9 Dambulla
7 Hambantota
2 SSC
2 P Sara

As far as world cup goes 13 matches will happen during Srilanakn leg. 8 matches are going to happen at RPS 5 matches at SSC. Just 2 grounds.

SSC has like 4 matches in its history of T20i

Pakistan has to play 3/4 at SSC

You literally have no data of how these wickets will play but apparently the Basit Ali’s, Tanvir Ahmed’s and Kamran Akmal’s have already said these are spinning conditions and for that you need Babar and Rizwan!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

SSC has like 4 matches in its history of T20i

Pakistan has to play 3/4 at SSC

You literally have no data of how these wickets will play but apparently the Basit Ali’s, Tanvir Ahmed’s and Kamran Akmal’s have already said these are spinning conditions and for that you need Babar and Rizwan!

Even if they are spinning pitches Babar isn't too good against spin.

He can be good on low pitches where you need to nudge the ball around but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a spinning pitch.

Against spinners in the middle overs he won't be too good.

Shoaib Malik was good for that in LOI back in the day.

 

[jnaveen1980]

SSC has like 4 matches in its history of T20i

Pakistan has to play 3/4 at SSC

You literally have no data of how these wickets will play but apparently the Basit Ali’s, Tanvir Ahmed’s and Kamran Akmal’s have already said these are spinning conditions and for that you need Babar and Rizwan!

They have hosted only associate teams. SSC has hosted 61 one-dayers. Only twice has a team managed to cross 300 here. Once Sri Lanka made 304 in 2004 against SA. Second time Pakistan made 343 against Hong Kong in 2004. Outside of that, nobody crossed 300. It also helps seamers, not just spinners. By the way, Babar is not exactly a great batsman against spin.