Pakistan vs New Zealand is part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight Group 2. The game is being played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Hosting big historic matches, including India vs Pakistan on 15th Feb, to today’s Pakistan vs New Zealand. The match starts at 7:00 PM local time, and the toss happens around 6:30 PM. The pitch usually becomes slower as the game goes on and helps spin bowlers. Humid weather and dew later can also affect bowlers and help spinners more, but the latter might affect the conditions.
Pakistan vs New Zealand: Toss and Captains Update
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first in this Super Eight match against New Zealand. They chose to bat so they could score runs first and put pressure on New Zealand while defending. Batting first also helps them avoid problems from dew later in the night, which makes bowling harder. Pakistan’s captain is Salman Ali Agha. New Zealand’s captain is Mitchell Santner, who is known for his smart leadership.
Pakistan vs New Zealand Playing XI Full List
Pakistan’s playing XI includes Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha as captain, Babar Azam, Usman Khan as wicketkeeper, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq, and Sahibzada Farhan.
New Zealand’s XI has Finn Allen, Tim Seifert as wicketkeeper, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner as captain, James Neesham, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and Ish Sodhi. Both teams look strong and balanced.
Pakistan vs New Zealand Pitch Report
The pitch at R. Premadasa Stadium is usually slow and low. This means the ball does not come fast onto the bat, and spin bowlers get more help as the match goes on. In the beginning, fast bowlers can get some bounce and movement under the lights. After some overs, the pitch slows down more. The middle overs become very important. Dew or light rain at night can also make bowling difficult.
Pakistan vs New Zealand Match Predictions Today
Many fans think Pakistan has a good chance because their spin bowlers like Usman Tariq and Mohammad Nawaz can use the slow pitch well. Supporters also believe Fakhar Zaman can score quick runs at the top.
New Zealand fans trust their strong batting and bowling. Players like Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert could play important innings against spin.
Experts say it will be a close match. The team that scores better in the first innings and handles the pitch under lights may win.
ALSO READ: Muhammad Zohaib: United Arab Emirates Cricketer Controversy
