Colombo, Sri Lanka – Web Desk: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match in Colombo on Saturday.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha chose to bat first as rain threatened to disrupt the contest. The start of the match was delayed due to weather conditions, with officials warning that overs would be reduced if play did not begin by 7:40 pm Pakistan time, while 9:46 pm was the cut-off time for a minimum five-over match.
Fakhar Zaman was included in the playing XI in place of Khawaja Nafi for the crucial Super 8 encounter. Pakistan’s lineup features Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, and Usman Tariq.
Rain remained a major concern, with no reserve day allocated for Super 8 matches under ICC regulations. If both teams fail to complete at least five overs per innings, the match will be abandoned and each side will receive one point.
