Australia Knocked Out Of T20 World Cup As Zimbabwe vs Ireland Gets Abandoned

Zimbabwe knocks out Australia [Source: AFP]

The Zimbabwe cricket team has qualified for the Super 8 stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Their rain-soddened outcome against Ireland also knocked Ireland and heavyweights Australia out of the competition.

Here, we take a look at the entire consequences and the overall impact of the abandoned 32nd match of the T20 World Cup 2026 between Zimbabwe and Ireland, as it panned out at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, February 17.

Zimbabwe goes through to Super 8s, joins Sri Lanka from Group B

Zimbabwe has become the second and final team from Group B to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In their final Group B match of the tournament against Ireland at the Pallekele International Stadium, the ‘Chevrons’ were required to win in a bid to confirm toppling Australia on the five-team standings.

However, ceaseless rains at the venue prevented play completely. After nearly a two-and-a-half-hour wait, umpires and other match officials abandoned the game without the toss.

Nonetheless, with both teams sharing a point, the Zimbabwe cricket team extended its Group B tally to five points from three matches. They will now face tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka in their final group match of the tournament before heading into the Super 8s.

Australia and Ireland officially knocked out

Zimbabwe’s moment of fortune also coincided with the first-round exit of both, Australia and Ireland.

The Australians, however, only have themselves to blame after suffering a shock defeat against Zimbabwe and by getting completely blown away by Sri Lanka. Last week, Australia failed to chase down Zimbabwe’s 169 by 23 runs as the two teams recorded one of the biggest upsets in the history of T20 World Cups.

An injury-ravaged Australian side also failed to defend a competitive 181-run total against Sri Lanka, with home opener Pathum Nissanka anchoring the chase through his majestic 52-ball unbeaten century.

The Ireland team, on the other hand, has registered just a solitary win from all their four Group B games of the competition.

Group B points table after Zimbabwe vs Ireland washout

Sri Lanka continues to occupy the top position on the Group B points table the three convincing wins in three matches. Moreover, their NRR also reads a formidable 2.462 at the moment.

With Zimbabwe’s recent no-result against Ireland, the ‘Chevrons’ have firmly established themselves at number two position with a game to spare. They are followed by Ireland at number three, Australia at number four and a winless Oman at five.

Zimbabwe clinch first-ever qualification beyond first round

Zimbabwe’s Super 8 qualification marks a historic occasion for the nation’s cricketing history. After failing to qualify for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup a couple of years ago in the Caribbean and the UAE, Zimbabwe has now qualified for the second round for the first time ever in a T20 World Cup.

While the Zimbabwe team did qualified for the Super 12 round of the 2022 T20 World Cup edition in Australia, the tournament followed a separate qualification round first-up for a handful of member and other associate nations.