COLOMBO: The Super Eight fixture between Pakistan and New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was abandoned without a ball being bowled after persistent rain at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha had won the toss and elected to bat first, but rain set in shortly afterwards and continued for over two and a half hours. Although the cut-off time for a five-over match was 9:46pm (PST), match officials called off the contest earlier due to waterlogged patches on the field.
Both teams were awarded one point each, complicating the standings in Super Eight Group 2, which also includes England and co-host Sri Lanka. The two sides are scheduled to meet on Sunday.
Pakistan, champions of the 2009 edition, will next face England at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday. New Zealand are set to take on Sri Lanka in Colombo the following day.
Under tournament rules, the top two teams from each Super Eight group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for March 4 and 5.
As part of the ‘Fusion Formula’ arrangement, Pakistan are playing all their T20 World Cup 2026 matches in Sri Lanka. If they qualify, the first semi-final will be held in Colombo; otherwise, it will be staged at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The venue for the final on March 8 will also depend on Pakistan’s qualification status.