Pakistan will kick off their Super 8 campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against New Zealand at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday. Both teams are aiming to regain momentum after inconsistent performances in the group stage. New Zealand finished second in their group following a defeat to South Africa, while Pakistan also secured second place after losing to India. The clash promises to be a high-stakes encounter as both sides look to assert dominance early in the Super 8 round.
For New Zealand, the bowling attack will be key. Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and Mitchell Santner are expected to shoulder much of the responsibility, especially after the team’s recent struggles with consistency in defence. Pakistan, on the other hand, will focus on shoring up its batting lineup. Opener Sahibzada Farhan is likely to play a crucial role at the top, providing the stability Pakistan will need to set or chase a competitive total.
This is premadasa side.
The match may be affected.#pakvsnz pic.twitter.com/u2pl7CK4xo— floki (@Unfeel34) February 21, 2026
In recent T20 clashes since January 2022, New Zealand has a slight edge over Pakistan, winning 13 of the 24 encounters, while Pakistan has won nine. However, the unpredictability of cricket means past results offer only limited insight, making this match highly anticipated by fans and analysts alike.
Weather Report
The weather could play a major role in Colombo. Forecasts predict rain before and during the match, potentially causing delays. The game is set to start at 7 PM local time, with temperatures between 24–26°C and humidity above 80 per cent. AccuWeather reports rain expected from 2–4 PM, followed by cloudy conditions throughout the evening.
Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan acknowledged the weather concerns but emphasised adaptability. “We can’t control these things. You never know—it might rain in one match and not in the others. There’s no point worrying about it,” he said.
PAKISTAN’S SCHEDULE FOR SUPER 8 IF THEY QUALIFY. 🇵🇰
Feb 21 – PAK vs NZ (RPS, Colombo)
Feb 24 – PAK vs ENG (Kandy)
Feb 28 – PAK vs SL (Kandy) pic.twitter.com/vgzGnYjuzh— Salman. (@TsMeSalman) February 16, 2026
If rain affects the opener, Pakistan will need wins against England and Sri Lanka in their remaining games to stay on course for a semi-final spot, keeping the stakes extremely high.
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