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What happens to Pakistan's semifinal chances as Colombo rain washes out New Zealand T20 World Cup Super 8 tie?
New Zealand and Pakistan shared a point after incessant rain forced the abandonment of the opening T20 World Cup Group 2 Super Eight match
Pakistan and New Zealand were forced to share a point each in the opening T20 World Cup Group 2 Super Eight match after rain in Colombo refused to relent. After more than a two-hour wait at the R. Premadasa Stadium, the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Earlier in the evening, amid a slight drizzle, the two captains walked out for the toss. New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner flipped the coin, Salman Agha called correctly, and Pakistan elected to bat first at the R Premadasa Stadium. However, as Agha began explaining his decision and confirming changes to the playing XI, it started raining heavily, forcing the covers back onto the square.
Since then, players from both sides remained inside their dressing rooms, watching the weather closely and hoping conditions would improve in time for a shortened contest.
The fans, too, stayed in the stands, keeping their fingers crossed for a game, with the cut-off time set at 11:00 pm to allow for at least a five-over contest. But as the steady drizzle turned into a relentless downpour, officials were eventually forced to call off the match without a ball being bowled.
Before the skies opened up, Pakistan made one change to their XI, bringing in Fakhar Zaman in place of Khawaja Nafay, while New Zealand made three changes — skipper Mitchell Santner returned after missing the previous match against Canada due to a stomach issue, while Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi also came into the side.
How the washed-out New Zealand Super 8 clash impacts Pakistan’s semifinal race
With the match washed out, Pakistan and New Zealand picked up a point each, as the ICC has not assigned a reserve day for the Super 8 stage. The outcome left both teams under added pressure in their remaining Super 8 fixtures against England and Sri Lanka in the race for semifinal qualification.
Historically, Pakistan enjoyed the upper hand against New Zealand in T20 World Cups, remaining unbeaten against them since 2016, a record that would have given them a potential edge in the Super 8 opener.
Their record against England, however, tells a different story. Pakistan are yet to beat England in T20 World Cup history, holding a 0-3 head-to-head record. That said, the spin-friendly conditions in Colombo could favour Pakistan’s bowling attack against an England side that has not looked at its dominant best in the tournament so far.
The bigger test may come against hosts Sri Lanka. Despite their shock defeat to Zimbabwe earlier this week, Sri Lanka remain a formidable side in familiar home conditions.
However, a similar washout in either of the remaining matches, a realistic possibility given Sri Lanka’s weather pattern, or a defeat could put Pakistan’s semifinal ambitions in serious jeopardy.
Pakistan will face England on February 24, while New Zealand will take on Sri Lanka on February 25.
