T20 World Cup 2026 | PAK vs NZ Abandoned As Rain Washes Out Super 8s Opener

Rain played spoilsport in Colombo as persistent showers forced the abandonment of the Pakistan vs New Zealand Super Eights opener

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup’s Super Eights stage got off to the most anticlimactic of beginnings as persistent rain in Colombo forced the abandonment of the highly anticipated Group 2 opener between Pakistan and New Zealand, with the match declared a no result, abandoned even before a single ball could be bowled.

The toss had taken place as scheduled at the R. Premadasa Stadium, offering a brief glimmer of hope that the game might proceed, but the weather had other plans.

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Rain swept steadily across Colombo through the evening, refusing to relent and leaving groundstaff powerless as the outfield grew increasingly unfit for play. Officials monitored conditions patiently, but as the clock ticked deeper into the night, the writing was firmly on the wall.

By 9:06 PM local time, the umpires and match officials made the inevitable call, the plug was pulled, and cricket’s showpiece T20 tournament had its first major washout.

Both teams, who had made the Super Eights on the back of hard-fought group stage campaigns, were left to trudge back to the dressing rooms without a single delivery to show for their evening’s preparation. The points were shared, one apiece, a result that could prove crucial in what promises to be a tightly contested group.