England captain Harry Brook has identified Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka as a key threat ahead of their Super 8 clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, saying his side will look to remove him early.
“Nissanka is on a bit of a heat at the minute, so it would be ideal if we can get him out early,” Brook said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday.
Nissanka has been among the standout performers of the tournament, playing a central role in Sri Lanka’s strong batting display during the group stage.
England enter the Super 8s after navigating a challenging opening round. Brook admitted his side had been “slightly too careful” with the bat at times but said they were treating the next phase as a fresh start.
“We see it as a new competition now. With no carrying over of points, it’s a completely fresh start,” he said. “We can probably be a bit more brave in certain situations and have more faith in the guys behind us.”
Brook also acknowledged England’s recent 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka at the same venue but cautioned that tournament cricket presents a different challenge.
“They’re obviously a strong side with a lot of confidence after a few very good wins,” he said. “If we stick to our guns and play our best cricket, there’s no reason why we can’t beat them.”
The England skipper confirmed his team would prepare for a full T20 match despite forecasts of heavy rain, saying adaptability would be key if overs are reduced.
“I think you just have to prepare as if it is a T20 game and hope that the rain stays away. If it doesn’t, then we’ve got to adapt,” Brook said.
England and Sri Lanka meet on Sunday in what is expected to be a high-stakes encounter as both sides look to make an early statement in the Super 8 stage. (Newswire)
