Kamal Ghorui
Rain has become the main talking point ahead of the Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match in Colombo, with the weather threatening to disrupt the big clash on Saturday. Light but steady drizzle has covered the ground, and the start of the match has already been delayed. Officials have kept the pitch and outfield under covers, and fans are waiting for updates on when play can begin.
If the rain does not stop, overs will start getting cut after 8:10 PM IST (2:40 PM GMT). That means the match could be shortened, depending on how long the delay lasts. The latest possible time to start a five-overs-per-side game is 10:16 PM IST (4.46 pm GMT). If play cannot begin by then, the match could be abandoned with no result, which would be a big blow for both teams.Rain in Colombo is not new, and similar conditions forced Pakistan to cancel a practice session recently. Even today, the drizzle has been persistent, and the forecast does not look very promising. Fans and teams are hoping for a break in the weather so that at least some cricket can be played.Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first. There are also some interesting team updates. Pakistan have brought back Fakhar Zaman despite concerns over his knee, which surprised many. It will be interesting to see where he bats in the order and what role Babar Azam plays in the lineup. New Zealand have also made changes, with captain Mitchell Santner returning and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson rejoining the squad after becoming a father.Both teams reached the Super 8 stage with strong performances in the group stage, so this match is important for their World Cup campaign. However, for now, all eyes are on the sky, as rain continues to decide the fate of this high-stakes clash.New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie FergusonPakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq
