Rain stops Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup Super Eight Clash in Colombo
2026-02-21 - 14:03
LAHORE – Relentless rain delayed the much-anticipated Super Eight clash between Pakistan and New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. What began as a light drizzle during the toss quickly turned into a steady downpour, forcing players off the field and leaving fans anxiously waiting for action to begin. Earlier, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha made a bold call after winning the toss — choosing to bat first in pressure-packed conditions. Pakistan made one significant change to their XI, bringing in the explosive Fakhar Zaman in place of wicketkeeper Khawaja Nafay. New Zealand, not to be outdone, reshuffled their lineup with three changes, headlined by the return of captain Mitchell Santner to the playing XI. The weather, however, remains the biggest opponent of the night. If rain washes out the contest entirely, both sides will be forced to settle for one point each, a frustrating outcome in the fiercely competitive Super Eight stage. The clock is ticking: overs will begin to be reduced if play doesn’t start before 8:10 PM IST, and the final cut-off for even a five-overs-per-side thriller is 10:16 PM. Playing XIs Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq. New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson. This is no ordinary contest. Pakistan and New Zealand have faced off 49 times in T20 internationals, with Pakistan holding a razor-thin edge, 24 wins to New Zealand’s 23, while two matches ended without result. On the World Cup stage, Pakistan have had the upper hand, leading 5-2 in seven meetings. Their most recent showdown came in the 2022 semi-final, where Pakistan cruised to a commanding seven-wicket victory. New Zealand’s last T20 World Cup triumph over Pakistan dates back to 2016, when they secured a 22-run win. With history, pride, and Super Eight stakes on the line — all eyes now turn skyward in Colombo. Will the rain relent and allow a blockbuster battle, or will the weather steal the spotlight?