by The first Super 8 match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will take place between New Zealand and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This high-stakes clash will be crucial, as the winning side will move one step closer to sealing a place in the semi final.
Match number 41 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 between NZ and PAK will be played on Saturday, February 21, 2026. It is an evening fixture, scheduled to start at 7:00 PM IST. For viewers in Pakistan, the local start time will be 6:30 PM PKT.
Pitch Report of R. Premadasa Stadium for NZ vs PAK T20I (Feb 21, 2026)
The pitch at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo generally assists bowlers, especially spinners, who are likely to get plenty of grip and turn in the first innings. Fast bowlers who can consistently hit hard lengths will also trouble the batters on this surface.
Batting is expected to become slightly easier in the second innings, but the chasing team will still need to keep the required target within reach. If the side batting first manages to post anything above 150, it could prove match-winning on this wicket.
For Pakistan, in particular, winning the toss and opting to field first appears to be a smart strategy. Most Kiwi batters, apart from one or two exceptions, are not very comfortable against genuine quality spin. Therefore, restricting New Zealand to under 150 should not be an impossible task for the men in green.
Rain Forecast for Colombo on Feb 21, 2026 – NZ vs PAK Super 8 Match
There is a high possibility of rain between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM on February 21, 2026, in Colombo. At the time of writing, the chances of rain stand at 66 percent, but the weather is expected to remain almost clear for the rest of the evening.
Humidity levels are likely to be around 84 percent, with wind speeds near 8 km/h. Considering the quality of the drainage system in Sri Lanka, a full 20 overs per side contest is still expected to take place even if there is a short interruption.
Expected Playing XIs for New Zealand vs Pakistan
Pakistan Probable XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq
New Zealand Probable XI: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
Winner Prediction and Odds for New Zealand vs Pakistan
- New Zealand – 55 percent chance of win
- Pakistan – 45 percent chance of win
Although it looks like an evenly poised contest on paper, the odds are slightly in favour of New Zealand at the moment, considering their current form and the way they have handled spin bowling so far in this tournament.
Pakistan has a history of consistently defeating New Zealand in ICC tournaments, and to repeat that history again, they will need to dismiss Tim Seifert early. He has been the most destructive batter for New Zealand in this tournament and could be the key wicket.
- Our final prediction – New Zealand will win this match.
Stay connected with us for more updates related to the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. If you have any queries regarding this New Zealand vs Pakistan clash, feel free to drop a comment below.
