Pakistan departs Colombo to play remaining Super 8 matches in Kandy

Pakistan will play their remaining two Super 8 fixtures of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Kandy as the tournament enters a decisive phase, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.

According to the report, the national side departed from Colombo for Kandy on Saturday to prepare for the crucial matches that could determine their progression in the competition. 

Team management officials said preparations are underway to ensure optimal conditions ahead of the upcoming encounters.

Pakistan are scheduled to play their second Super 8 match on 24 February, followed by their third fixture on 28 February. 

With the tournament reaching a critical juncture, the team will be aiming to deliver strong performances to strengthen their position in the standings.

Yesterday, the crucial Super 8 stage encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was abandoned due to persistent rain. 

The match, scheduled to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, could not commence despite multiple inspections as heavy showers continued to drench the ground and outfield.

With conditions failing to improve within the stipulated cut-off time, match officials were left with no option but to declare the game a no-result.

As per tournament regulations, both teams were awarded one point each.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in what marked the first match of the Super 8 stage of the tournament.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opted to set a target on what is considered a competitive surface, reflecting confidence in his team’s ability to handle pressure and post a formidable total.

However, persistent rain interrupted proceedings before play could gather momentum, leaving players and spectators waiting as ground staff worked to protect the pitch and prepare the outfield for action.

The high-stakes encounter in Colombo has attracted significant attention, with both teams looking to strengthen their position in the Super 8 round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan have made one key change to their playing XI for the match.

Fakhar Zaman has been included in the lineup in place of Khawaja Nafay, adding experience and firepower to the top order.

Pakistan and New Zealand enter the fixture with similar momentum in their favour, as both teams finished second in their respective groups, winning three of their four matches.

While India succeeded in emphatically beating Pakistan, the latter won all of its other three matches, trouncing the USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia.

The two sides have locked horns seven times in T20 WCs, with five victories to Pakistan’s credit.

Their last meeting in the tournament came in the semi-final of the 2022 edition, which the Green Shirts won comfortably by seven wickets.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's last victory over Pakistan dates back to the 2016 edition, where they prevailed by 22 runs.

Playing XIs

New Zealand 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
 
Pakistan 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

Reporter: Ejaz Waseem Bakhari