Bbc Cricket: Heavy Rain Forces Delay to New Zealand v Pakistan Super Eights Match in Colombo
The Super Eights encounter between New Zealand and Pakistan at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup was halted by persistent downpours in Colombo, leaving the 41st Match of Super Eights Group 2 (N) on February 21, 2026, without a ball bowled. The pause matters because continuing poor weather raises the prospect of a washout and fresh pressure on Pakistan’s Super Eight and semifinal ambitions.
Cricket: Santner and Salman meet in the tunnel
Television coverage cut to captains Mitch Santner and Salman Ali Agha as they shook hands in the tunnel; Santner gave a thumbs up to the few viewers remaining in the stands. New Zealand’s skipper spoke at the toss and said: "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. " The live updates noted the two sides have met several times over the past two years, with the Black Caps holding the edge, ever so slightly.
Colombo outfield: puddles on covers and umpires' pending call
Significant puddles have formed on the covers on the outfield and big droplets were visible on their surfaces as rain continued to fall heavily. The stadium big screen displayed the message "start of play delayed because of rain, " and another on-screen plea read "Rain, rain, go away. " Ground staff left the playing area fully covered in Colombo and officials were waiting on a call from the umpires; no further play was possible while the covers remained in place.
Pakistan and the washout question
The stoppage has immediate competitive implications: continuing rain could turn the delay into a washout, an outcome flagged in coverage as potentially damaging to Pakistan's route through the Super Eights and their hopes of reaching the semifinals. The impact is straightforward — if play cannot start and the match is abandoned, both sides would be forced to accept the points allocation that follows from a no-result, reshaping Group 2's table and Pakistan's margin for error.
England fixture in Pallekele and Harry Brook's comments
With the New Zealand–Pakistan match stalled, attention was already being drawn to tomorrow's opener for England in the Super Eights: England face Sri Lanka in Pallekele at 09: 30 GMT. England captain Harry Brook spoke to the press ahead of that fixture and said it would be "a shame" if Pakistan players were excluded from playing in The Hundred this year. The coverage made clear the England match is scheduled for 09: 30 GMT and that the team hoped for better weather than that being experienced in Colombo.
Player contracts, auction timing and a midday diversion
The live updates also carried off-field developments: Pakistan players are not being considered by the four Indian-owned sides for the auction, which will take place on 11 and 12 March. Yorkshire batter Brook has already been signed by Indian-owned Sunrisers Leeds, previously known as Northern Superchargers, and will be the tournament's highest-paid player after receiving a fee of £465, 000. While play was suspended at the RPS venue in Colombo, the broadcast suggested viewers try a new interactive feature that invites fans to pick their international team and guess on which metric their side's players beat another player from around the world.
No further news was forthcoming from Colombo at the time the coverage paused, other than confirmation it continued to rain. The timing matters because any additional delay could convert a one-day interruption into a match lost to the weather, altering the Super Eights equation for New Zealand and Pakistan and compounding off-field conversations already underway about player availability at upcoming auctions.
