ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Super 8 clash between Pakistan and New Zealand abandoned without a ball being bowled

[Bhaijaan]

I generally accept banter between two opposition supporters but sometimes it gets beyond that here it disturbs me I have very close Indian friends who are wonderful human being

Never judge people by Internet dear. Always go by personal real life experiences.

Besides it’s just better to act nice.

 

[Kianig89]

this game will be a good criteria to judge Pakistan team, can we rise above minnows!

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

NewZealand are clear favorites for today's game. Their power hitters will be a huge difference. Finn, Siefert, Phillips, Michell. Pakistan only has Farhan. I hope they keep the same team that won agaist Namibia except for Babar.

 

[Kianig89]

Saim
Farhan
fakhar
agha
shadab
usman
nawaz
naseem
mirza
UTariq
abrar
---------
Always go for specialist than rellu katttas , "Great Imran Khan"

 

[KingKhanWC]

NZ have yet to play here , Pakistan know the deck , surroundings and have the spinners . As long as Pak batters achieve 160 batting first , they should win this comfortably imo

 

[RidiculousMan]

Should've started raining an hour ago, still nothing. Chance of rain was 80%, has gone down to 40%, we also had scattered thunderstorms which has gone down to light or moderate rain. Chances looking better by the hour. Fingers crossed.

Qudrat Ka Nizam coming in clutch?

 

[shah9425]

Hopefully rain stays away

Win toss and post around 180

Drop Babar and bring abrar in

 

[Rana]

this game will be a good criteria to judge Pakistan team, can we rise above minnows!

Just say it as it is. You think Pakistan is crap because your players are not rated

 

[Chuggy]

He is nothing special apart from that pause. Once team start playing him regularly he is going to smashed.

Just like your tulleybaaz duck master

 

[RidiculousMan]

Short or no short this is probably their best side; may be make room.for Abrar somewhere?

Only reason I opted for Naseem instead of Abrar is that in shortened game. Spinners are likely to travel and it won't spin as much. Pakistan might need two specialist pacers to do the death overs job.

 

[Devadwal]

Just like your tulleybaaz duck master

Afe you talking about Ducking Babar and Saim?

 

[Usman Chadda]

Fakhar isn’t fit according to sources. He could barely complete his training drills, so the question remains why did they select an unfit player in the 15?

 

[Ali Active]

whats the weather

 

[zahid01]

Fakhar isn’t fit according to sources. He could barely complete his training drills, so the question remains why did they select an unfit player in the 15?

If he's injured get a replacement in why keep a injured player in squad

 

[Rana]

The most stressful thing about all of these big games in Sri Lanka is the constant watch over weather

It totally kills the enthusiasm you should have for enjoying cricket

 

[shah9425]

So far no rain

Hopefully it stays away

 

[Boom-Boom-Afridi-37]

So far no rain

Hopefully it stays away

On the contrary..it adds to the excitement !

it's funny we all become meteorologists for the day

 

[zahid01]

whats the weather

 

[shah9425]

On the contrary..it adds to the excitement !

it's funny we all become meteorologists for the day

It happens every time when SL and England is hosting a tournament

Thankfully next WC is in South Africa where weather is less of concern

 

[RidiculousMan]

Fakhar isn’t fit according to sources. He could barely complete his training drills, so the question remains why did they select an unfit player in the 15?

He was not fit in the last two WCs as well. Has been struggling with his knee for years now. Hope it is not a knee injury again.

 

[alishahid]

definite washout. Raining heavily in colombo and even 90 km away from the ground

 

[RidiculousMan]

If it is going to rain, it will rain at the start of the game time.

 

[RidiculousMan]

definite washout. Raining heavily in colombo and even 90 km away from the ground

Not raining in Ground at the moment. Might start raining though

 

[CricVet]

180 will be a winner batting first. 160 will be a fighting score. 140 is defendable, but extremely low odds to win. IF Fakhar is injured, that would not make a difference since they prefer free loading passengers.

 

[Rana]

Not raining in Ground at the moment. Might start raining though

At most I think it will be a 1 hour burst. They usually have a 90 minute window before overs start cutting off

 

[RidiculousMan]

At most I think it will be a 1 hour burst. They usually have a 90 minute window before overs start cutting off

Are you at the stadium?

 

[G0rmintAunty]

definite washout. Raining heavily in colombo and even 90 km away from the ground

Not raining here a couple of kms from the ground , although wind seems to be picking up, similar condishuns as before the rain yesterday.

 

[Rana]

Are you at the stadium?

Back home

I’ve kind of understood how their climate works

 

[Aami]

Is anyone at the ground or will be for the game?

 

[RidiculousMan]

Is anyone at the ground or will be for the game?

Cricwick on youtube is covering the stadium and weather update live

 

[saabir]

Not raining here a couple of kms from the ground , although wind seems to be picking up, similar condishuns as before the rain yesterday.

Keep us updated..don't want to spoil weekend fun

 

[m.shah]

Never judge people by Internet dear. Always go by personal real life experiences.

Besides it’s just better to act nice.

Exactly, I work with people of Gujarat they are some of the best known persons to me. Always supportive and never discriminate on religion with me.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Fakhar isn’t fit according to sources. He could barely complete his training drills, so the question remains why did they select an unfit player in the 15?

His career is done and dusted. One tournament too many.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

On my way to the stadium, nice cool breeze, not as humid as before rain.

 

[Omer2002]

Hopefully rain stays away

Win toss and post around 180

Drop Babar and bring abrar in

We already have no batters and here we are dropping more batters

 

[shah9425]

We already have no batters and here we are dropping more batters

Babar as batsman useless

 

[Asif321]

Some reporter said that . Groundmen said it won’t rain to wash out the game

 

[saabir]

On my way to the stadium, nice cool breeze, not as humid as before rain.

But some people saying it's raining heavily in Columbo

 

[G0rmintAunty]

But some people saying it's raining heavily in Columbo

Khayaali pulao

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

So far there is NO RAIN at the Ground, I will cover the match. Also i can see the brightness is getting increased slowly (good signs), some parts of clouds are also kinda clearing.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

So far there is NO RAIN at the Ground, I will cover the match. Also i can see the brightness is getting increased slowly (good signs), some parts of clouds are also kinda clearing.

Awesome keep us updated

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Looks like this evenings’s vicarious entertainment is still on.

Me, I’m all in for the irresponsible cheap thrills that come when as an Indian fan you’re watching a crunch Pakistan game.

 

[shaaik]

So far there is NO RAIN at the Ground, I will cover the match. Also i can see the brightness is getting increased slowly (good signs), some parts of clouds are also kinda clearing.

Keep updating!!

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

Players are out and inspecting the pitch.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Players are out and inspecting the pitch.

Pics, if possible please.

 

[PakPremi]

Only one change needed Naseem for Faheem. Nafey deserves another chance.

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

Pics, if possible please.

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

Only one change needed Naseem for Faheem. Nafey deserves another chance.

In here Journos saying 99% chance we might see same team.

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

Interestingly Fakhar and Coach came out together checking the pitch....

 

[pakfan54588]

Abrar is ineffective against left handed batsmen and nz have plenty of them .I think due to cloudy weather nasim won.t be bad option

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Think chasing is the way to go. Pitch may be damp and DLS calculations may come in with rain interruptions

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Interestingly Fakhar and Coach came out together checking the pitch....

I hope sanity prevail and they play fakhar instead of babar

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Im at the gate, weather fine

 

[hamzie]

My question for the weather is final match your perform what happening

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

From one Side a group of DARK DARK clouds are coming, winds flow increasing as well. Some Local ppl saying that expect some rain after 7PM (Sri Lanka) time.

 

[RehanG]

Win toss bat second with weather in mind.

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

I saw Fakhar was doing some batting practice.

 

[AAli98]

Saqlain on ptv sports shamelessly saying utilise my son in law,should bowl his full 4 over quota.

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

Very very very light drizzle started. Nothing major.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Im at the gate, weather fine

Looks like it’s on its way .

They should start the match half hour early in such scenarios.

Enjoy the game

 

[pakistani pride]

We already have no batters and here we are dropping more batters

Is Babar a batter?

 

[G0rmintAunty]

.

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

And btw, iftaari here in around 20 minutes haha.

 

[saabir]

Saqlain on ptv sports shamelessly saying utilise my son in law,should bowl his full 4 over quota.

NZ will go after him..they knows he will struggle under pressure and will bowl full tosses

 

[mon858]

Very very very light drizzle started. Nothing major.

Hmm, even if its Light means they may not take covers offend start game. Alternatively good for the shower to happen now and finish early so we get full game after it.

 

[CricVet]

Is Babar a batter?

No, hee batters the winning odds.

 

[saabir]

.

Why the pitch is covered???

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

All set for a winning start for pak

 

[AndayWalaAllRounder]

Why the pitch is covered???

Because of light drizzle.

 

[shah9425]

Why the pitch is covered???

Maybe for drizzle

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Because of light drizzle.

Im in the box, can't really see any drizzle. Even against the light background

 

[Devadwal]

Im in the box, can't really see any drizzle. Even against the light background

Then ground staff expecting some rain ?

 

[mon858]

for shortened games:
1. You dont need anchoring. Means even if Babar was in form of his life, his role is not there, drop him.
2. You dont need batting till number 9, can easily drop 1 or 2 all rounders
3. Its going to be more like death bowling, so need second pacer for sure.
4. With rain and cloud and moisture may assist pacers more and ball may be wet for spin. Another reason for second pacer.

Based on above my lineup:
1. Farhan
2. Saim
3. Salman
4. Fakhar
5. Nafay
6. Shadab
7. Nawaz
8. Usman
9. Nasim
10. Salman
11. Usman T

Going for Shadab over Abrar just for 6 hitting ability for shortened game. If its full game and sun with spin then would play Abrar over him especially for Sena teams.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Cant see any wetness either on the cover

 

[Sherazkhalid]

All this excitement for the game and half way though we all be like it would have been better if its rained, at least we would have gotten a point.

 

[mon858]

Rain is big advantage for NZ:
1. Better ability to handle pace, familiar condition vs hot sunny dry
2. Better 6 hitting ability for shortened game
3. Good swing bowling
4. We may not get full quota of Usman T our main weapon.

 

[shaz619]

If Babar doesn’t get to Bat, Pak in with a good chance. Big risk getting him in the line up for a game which could have reduced overs.

Usman Tariq needs to be used more positively if Plan A doesn’t work, we can’t rely on the line up chasing 170+ & need to keep that in mind.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

I anm assuming that Babar is playing. Undroppable for whatever reason.

And for that reason also it would be unlikely they do any major changes to the overall combo from the last game.

 

[Major]

Saqlain mushtaq is talking stupid..

 

[shah9425]

Saqlain mushtaq is talking stupid..

Protecting her full tosser damad