Read the highlights of New Zealand vs Pakistan - The 41st match has been abandoned without a ball bowled of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup Twenty20 International cricket tournament between New Zealand and Pakistan, at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on February 21, 2026.
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| Rain arrived in Colombo soon after the toss © Getty Images |
Incessant rain washes out opening Super Eight game between New Zealand and Pakistan at R Premadasa Stadium in the 41st match of a ICC T20 World Cup.
This match reported by Danyal Rasool (Third Party Reference from ESPNCricinfo)
New Zealand and Pakistan will share the points after rain forced a washout in Colombo. The officials waited over two hours from the official start time for an improvement in the weather conditions, but the steady drizzle that began at the toss only grew heavier and never quite relented.
With puddles forming on the covers and the overhead conditions no closer to improving, the umpires made the inevitable call.
There was a strong chance of showers as toss time approached. The previous day, Pakistan's evening training session had to be cancelled due to rain. At the toss, which Pakistan won with Salman Agha opting to bat first, a drizzle began as the captains were speaking, and the ground staff began to move the covers into position. From thereon, the fate of the game was sealed.
Pakistan had left Khawaja Nafay out and brought in Fakhar Zaman, while New Zealand made three changes, including welcoming their captain Mitchell Santner back into the XI.
Both teams got off the mark in the Super Eight, but are left with little room for error. Pakistan will play England next on Tuesday and Sri Lanka a week from today, while New Zealand take on Sri Lanka on Wednesday and England on Friday. All games in this group take place in Sri Lanka.
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