R. Premadasa Stadium (Source:X)
The Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to begin with a high-voltage clash between Pakistan and New Zealand in Colombo. However, rain clouds are hovering over what promises to be a thrilling contest at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday, February 21.
Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the opening match of the Super 8 round. With the group stage now complete, the tournament has entered its most important phase.
The remaining eight teams have been divided into two groups of four, and only the top two teams from each group will move on to the semi-finals.
Group 1 features India, South Africa, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Group 2 includes New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Colombo Weather threatens PAK Vs NZ Super 8 match
But as excitement builds for this crucial encounter between PAK vs NZ, the Colombo forecast has raised concerns. Rain is often a factor in Sri Lanka, especially in Colombo, and Saturday's (February 21) forecast is far from encouraging.
According to AccuWeather.com, thunderstorms are expected during the afternoon and evening. The day will remain mostly cloudy with temperatures reaching up to 30°C.
Around 7.6 mm of rainfall is predicted, with nearly two hours of precipitation likely during the day for PAK vs NZ. There is a 75% chance of rain and an 18% chance of thunderstorms. Cloud cover is expected to remain extremely high, around 93 to 99 %, throughout the day.
By evening, when the PAK vs NZ match is scheduled, the temperature in Colombo is expected to drop slightly to around 25 °C. While the chances of heavy rainfall may decrease later in the day, cloud cover is predicted to remain at 100%.
The precipitation probability during the match is 25%, leaving room for interruptions during Pakistan vs New Zealand.
What if the PAK vs NZ Super 8 match is abandoned?
It is important to mention that, as per ICC rules for the Super 8 stage, there are no reserve days for these matches.
For a result to be declared, both teams must bat for at least five overs each. If weather conditions do not allow even a five-over contest, the match will be declared abandoned.
In such a case, both Pakistan and New Zealand will share one point each. A no-result could put both teams under pressure in a group that also includes England and Sri Lanka.
With only two semi-final spots available from the group, dropped points at this stage could prove costly.
If rain interrupts play, match officials will try to use the additional 90 minutes available on the same day to complete the game.
PAK and NZ's T20 World Cup tournament so far
In the group stage of the tournament, both Pakistan and New Zealand showed strong performances despite suffering one defeat each.
Pakistan's only loss came against India after they had started their campaign with two thrilling wins. However, they quickly regained momentum with a dominant display against Namibia in their last group stage match.
With consistent performances, Pakistan finished second in Group A behind India to qualify for the Super 8 stage. Similarly, New Zealand secured second place in Group D behind South Africa, booking their spot in the next round.
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