T20 Cricket World Cup: Pakistan v New Zealand abandoned as heavy rain washes out Colombo Super 8s match

The T20 Cricket World Cup Super 8s fixture between Pakistan and New Zealand in Colombo was abandoned without a ball bowled after heavy rain left the outfield and covers waterlogged, denying either side a result and leaving both teams with one point each.

R Premadasa Stadium sees persistent downpour and delayed start

Play at R Premadasa Stadium was halted before a ball was delivered as significant puddles formed on the covers and large droplets continued to fall, with the stadium big screen displaying the message "start of play delayed because of rain. " Organisers kept the field fully covered, and match officials waited for a call from the umpires while the conditions showed no sign of easing. A secondary big-screen plea read "Rain, rain, go away. "

Pakistan and New Zealand captains, Mitch Santner and Salman Ali Agha, on the sidelines

Television cameras briefly cut to New Zealand captain Mitch Santner and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha shaking hands in the tunnel and offering a thumbs-up to the remaining spectators as the interruption stretched on. Santner had addressed conditions at the toss, saying: "We came here from Chennai. It could be a little bit different here. But we know what the conditions will be. We know what challenge Pakistan will bring. It should be entertaining. They've got some very good spinners. We know that. " Pakistan had won the toss and elected to bat, but persistent rain kept the players from the field and the game was eventually called off.

T20 Cricket World Cup Super 8s Group 2: standings and immediate consequences

With the match abandoned without a ball bowled, Pakistan and New Zealand each take one point in Super 8s Group 2. Both teams had entered the Super 8s having recorded three wins and one defeat during round one of the tournament. Group 2 also contains England and Sri Lanka; Group 1 comprises India, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe. The Super 8s format has each team playing the others in its group once, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals.

Schedule implications across Group 2 and upcoming fixtures

The washout leaves a compressed schedule intact: England and Sri Lanka are due to meet in Pallekele on Sunday with a 9. 30am first ball after broadcast preparations from 9am, while England are slated to face Pakistan in Pallekele on Tuesday and New Zealand in Colombo on Friday. Sri Lanka are scheduled to play New Zealand in Colombo on Wednesday and Pakistan in Pallekele on Saturday, February 28. The timing of the abandonment means teams will carry forward the single point and prepare for those fixtures under tight turnaround conditions.

Wider Super 8s context and past records

Seedings for the Super 8s were determined ahead of the stage to support logistics, a decision that placed all four group winners from round one—India, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe—together in Group 1. New Zealand remain the only team in Group 2 yet to have won the T20 World Cup; England won the tournament in 2010 and 2022, Pakistan in 2009 and Sri Lanka in 2014. New Zealand's best finish to date was runners-up to Australia in 2021. Australia did not reach the Super 8s this year after defeats to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in round one.

Players, press and parallel stories as play was postponed

While play was curtailed in Colombo, attention shifted to other tournament and domestic matters. England captain Harry Brook spoke to the press ahead of his side's clash with Sri Lanka, saying it would be "a shame" if Pakistan players were excluded from playing in The Hundred this year. Pakistan players are not being considered by the four Indian-owned sides for the auction scheduled for 11 and 12 March. Brook has already been signed by the Indian-owned Sunrisers Leeds, the franchise previously known as Northern Superchargers, and will be the competition's highest-paid player after receiving a fee of £465, 000. Commentators suggested reading a preview by Matthew Henry of England's first Super Eight fixture in Pallekele while waiting for an update from Colombo.

The abandonment in Colombo underlines how weather can immediately alter tournament arithmetic: the cause—continuous heavy rain—had the clear effect of denying a completed contest, awarding one point apiece and preserving the pre-existing schedule and seedings as the Super 8s progress.