Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in their opening Super Eight match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. The decision immediately raised excitement among fans, as both teams entered the game with strong momentum.
Both sides finished second in their respective groups, winning three out of four matches. This made the Super Eight clash even more important, as a strong start could shape their path to the semi-finals.
Pakistan and New Zealand have faced each other 49 times in T20 internationals. Pakistan hold a slight edge with 24 wins, while New Zealand have secured 23 victories. This close record adds more tension to the contest.
In T20 World Cups, the Green Shirts have been more dominant. Out of seven meetings, Pakistan have won five, while New Zealand have managed two victories. Their last World Cup encounter was in the 2022 semi-final, where Pakistan defeated New Zealand comfortably by seven wickets.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha c, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan wk, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza and Usman Tariq.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert wk, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner c, Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi and Lockie Ferguson.
Read more: Will rain wash out Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8 Clash
The toss may look small, but in T20 cricket it can change everything. Batting first gives Pakistan a chance to put scoreboard pressure. But New Zealand are known for chasing calmly. It may come down to one over or even one ball. This match could decide who moves closer to the trophy and who feels the pressure next.
