Colombo, February 21 – Rain ultimately decided the opening Super Eights match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Saturday, forcing the abandonment of the clash between Pakistan and New Zealand at the R Premadasa Stadium. Both teams were left with a shared point after persistent showers prevented a ball from being bowled.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha had won the toss and opted to bat first, but no sooner had the decision been made than light rain swept across the ground. The covers were quickly brought out, and puddles formed on the square, making the conditions unplayable. Match officials waited through the evening, but with the rain showing no signs of letting up, the inevitable decision to abandon the game was made.
The playing conditions for this tournament, set by the International Cricket Council (ICC), require a minimum of five overs per side for a result to be declared. The deadline for a shortened contest was set at 11:10 pm, but the weather never cleared. With no reserve days in the Super Eights – they are only available for the semifinals and final – the match was abandoned, and "no result" was recorded.
Weather forecasts had already raised concerns, with Accuweather predicting cloudy skies and a high chance of evening showers in Colombo. Pakistan had cancelled training on Friday due to rain, and Saturday's conditions confirmed fears that the weather could play a decisive role in the early stages of the Super Eights.
The washout leaves both teams with one point each in Group 2, a scenario that could complicate their path to the semifinals. With England and Sri Lanka also in the group, shared points may prove costly in what is expected to be a tightly contested race to enter the semifinals.
Pakistan had made one change to their playing eleven, bringing in Fakhar Zaman for Khawaja Nafay. New Zealand opted for three alterations, with captain Mitchell Santner returning after missing the previous game against Canada due to a stomach issue, while Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi were also recalled to strengthen the bowling attack.
Both sides now turn their attention to their remaining fixtures. Pakistan face England on February 24 and 28 respectively, while New Zealand meet Sri Lanka on February 25 before clashing against England on February 27. The washout was a disappointing outcome for fans and players alike, as the first Super Eights match ended without a contest due to the rain not relenting.
