Cricket fans were left disappointed as the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 curtain-raiser between Pakistan and New Zealand fell victim to unseasonal rains in Colombo. At R Premadasa Stadium, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha chose to bat first post-toss win, but nature had other plans—no overs were possible.
Salman Agha’s men lined up with openers Sahibzada Farhan and Sam Ayub, stalwarts Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, keeper Usman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, and Usman Tariq. Santner’s New Zealand featured Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, and bowlers Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.
Points shared 1-1 due to abandonment sets up intriguing Super 8 Group A battles. Pakistan faces England February 24, Sri Lanka February 28. Kiwis tackle Sri Lanka 25th, England 27th.
Group stage flashbacks: Pakistan’s 3 wins from 4—Netherlands (3 wkts), USA (32 runs), loss to India (61 runs), Namibia rout (102 runs). New Zealand: Afghanistan (5 wkts), UAE massacre (10 wkts), South Africa slip (7 wkts), Canada demolition (8 wkts).
Super 8s heat up Sunday with England vs Sri Lanka in Pallekele and India-South Africa showdown at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. May the weather hold for what’s next.