England Lions and Pakistan Shaheens face off in the third and final unofficial T20 of their three-match series at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on February 24, 2026. Jordan Cox leads a Lions side that has already won the series 2-0, making this a dead rubber.
Asa Tribe and James Coles have been the standout performers with the bat and ball, respectively, across the first two games. Pakistan Shaheens, captained by Shamyl Hussain, will want to avoid a whitewash and end their tour with a win. With the series already sealed, both teams may use this game to give fringe players more game time ahead of the five-match ODI series starting February 27.
England Lions vs Pakistan Shaheens Match Preview
This series decider at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium is the final T20 between these two sides before the ODI leg of the tour begins. England Lions have dominated throughout, winning the first game by 4 wickets and the second by 32 runs. Pakistan Shaheens head into this match with nothing to lose and will play with more freedom as a result.
England Lions begin the ODI series on February 27 in Abu Dhabi, while Pakistan Shaheens continue at the same venue. The match starts at 7:30 PM local time, making it an evening contest under the Abu Dhabi lights.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | England Lions vs Pakistan Shaheens, 3rd Unofficial T20 |
| Date | 24 February 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM Local / 9:00 PM IST / 3:30 PM GMT |
| Venue | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Series | England Lions v Pakistan Shaheens in UAE, 2026 |
| Context | Series decider; England Lions lead 2-0 |
Pitch Report
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium surface in Abu Dhabi is flat and batting-friendly. The pitch offers good bounce and pace early in the innings, giving fast bowlers some assistance with the new ball. The outfield is quick, which helps the ball reach the boundary with ease. As the innings develop, the pitch settles and becomes easier to bat on. Spinners can get some turn and grip in the middle overs, but the surface does not deteriorate sharply. Both previous T20s in this series at this venue produced totals above 150, with England Lions posting 183 in the second game.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Flat, batting-friendly with good bounce |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Around 155-170 in T20s at this venue |
| Pace vs Spin | Pacers get early movement, spinners are effective in the middle overs |
| Toss Factor | No dew issue; batting first gives a clear target advantage |
| Boundary Size | Medium boundaries (around 65-70 metres) |
Weather Report
Abu Dhabi in late February offers some of the best cricket conditions. The city sits in a dry desert climate, so rain is almost never a concern. The evening match will be played in clear, comfortable weather. Temperatures will hover around 24-27 degrees Celsius during the game. Humidity levels remain low, which makes it a pleasant evening for both players and fans. There is no threat of rain or interruption, so a full 20-over game is expected on both sides.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24-27°C during match hours |
| Sky | Clear with no cloud cover |
| Rain Chance | Negligible; desert climate |
| Humidity | Low (30-40%) |
| Overall | Ideal conditions for cricket |
Toss Prediction
The toss is less of a factor at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium compared to subcontinental venues. There is no dew in Abu Dhabi, so neither innings has a particular advantage from conditions. However, the captain winning the toss will likely choose to bat first so their bowlers can attack a set target in the second innings.
In the previous two T20s at this venue, the team batting first set a competitive total and applied pressure. England Lions have shown a preference for chasing in this series, but in a dead rubber, either captain may opt to bat first and use the game as batting practice for their ODI preparations.
Injury Updates
England Lions: No injury concerns have been reported in the England Lions camp.
Pakistan Shaheens: No Injury Concern
Dream11 Team For England Lions vs Pakistan Shaheen
Last Five T20 Meetings
- Eng Lions won by 32 runs, 22-Feb-2026
- Eng Lions won by 4 wickets (with 5 balls remaining) 20-Feb-2026
- Eng Lions won by 4 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) 08-Dec-2018
- Eng Lions won by 4 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) 07-Dec-2018
- Match tied (Eng Lions won the one-over eliminator) 16-Dec-2015
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asa Tribe | ENG Lions | Batter | POTM in the 1st T20 with 64*; anchors the chase well |
| James Coles | ENG Lions | All-rounder | POTM in the 2nd T20: 48* and 4/18; outstanding in both departments |
| Jordan Cox | ENG Lions | Batter/WK-C | Captain with 34 in the 2nd game; leads from the front |
| Ben McKinney | ENG Lions | Opener | 38 off 25 balls in the 2nd T20; powerful at the top |
| Maaz Sadaqat | PAK Shaheens | Batter | Top-scorer in the 2nd T20 with 32; most consistent Shaheens batter |
| Akif Javed | PAK Shaheens | Pacer | 2 wickets in the 1st T20; most dangerous bowler in the Shaheens attack |
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