COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Persistent rain has delayed the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Colombo’s R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, after Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bat first.
Drizzle began around the time of the toss and has continued, forcing ground staff to keep the covers in place.
Rain delays the start of the match 🌧️#PAKvNZ | #T20WorldCup | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/4DBOAPJ0XT
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 21, 2026
Tournament regulations state that if the match does not commence by 7:40 pm Pakistan Standard Time, overs will be reduced.
The official cut-off to allow a minimum five-over contest for each side is 9:46 pm PST.
Under Super Eight rules, if both teams are unable to play at least five overs per innings, the match will be abandoned and each team awarded one point.
No reserve day has been allocated for Super Eight fixtures.
A blockbuster opening to the #T20WorldCup Super 8 phase 🍿
Don't miss the action! Broadcast details here 📲 https://t.co/NPykWM7qqY pic.twitter.com/aJAOYVeo7U
— ICC (@ICC) February 21, 2026
Team changes
Pakistan made one change to their playing XI, bringing in opener Fakhar Zaman in place of Khawaja Nafay.
Captain Salman Ali Agha said the team would rely on their combination of pace and spin to set a challenging total.
“We have two pace options and a lot of spin options. We have to play our A-game,” he said.
New Zealand made three changes, adding leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, while James Neesham and Jacob Duffy were omitted.
Captain Mitchell Santner noted the challenge posed by Pakistan’s spin attack. “We know the challenge Pakistan pose. They have some good spinners,” he said.
Key matchups
The fixture is expected to hinge on Pakistan’s spin trio against New Zealand’s batting line-up.
The Black Caps have lost only 14 wickets across four matches so far in the tournament, highlighting their depth in the middle order.
Pakistan will also rely on tournament top-scorer Sahibzada Farhan, who scored a century against Namibia.
Head-to-head record
New Zealand and Pakistan have played out some fierce #T20WorldCup contests over the years 👊
They face off again in the Super 8, broadcast details 👉 https://t.co/Wf4VaE4pSJ pic.twitter.com/ZVh3fVID0P
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 21, 2026
Pakistan and New Zealand have faced each other 49 times in T20 internationals, with Pakistan holding a narrow 24-23 advantage, while two matches ended in no result.
In T20 World Cups, Pakistan leads 5-2, including their semi-final win over New Zealand in 2022.
New Zealand’s last victory against Pakistan in the tournament came in 2016.
🚨 TOSS & PLAYING XI 🚨
Pakistan win the toss and elect to bat first 🏏
One change to our playing XI for the Super Eights fixture today 🇵🇰#PAKvNZ | #T20WorldCup | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/yjNb8f7Iyv
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 21, 2026
Pakistan Playing XI
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.
New Zealand Playing XI
Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.
Venue familiarity and conditions
New Zealand faces the additional challenge of adjusting to a new venue, having played all previous Super Eight matches in Chennai and Ahmedabad.
Pakistan have played only one prior match at R. Premadasa Stadium against India, though they have experience in Colombo at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
Both sides enter the match with similar momentum, having finished second in their respective group stages, winning three of four matches.
Between October 2022 and April 2025, the teams faced each other 41 times across formats, underlining their familiarity with one another.
