Pakistan vs New Zealand Possible Playing XI, Head to Head & Super Eight Preview T20 WC 2026
It’s a massive night at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Pakistan take on New Zealand in the 41st Match of the Super Eights, Group 2 at the T20 World Cup 2026 tonight — February 21, 2026, with play starting at 7:00 PM local time. Both sides need a strong performance here to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Catch all the T20 World Cup 2026 match updates and news as this blockbuster Super Eight night unfolds.
Quick answer: New Zealand have dominated recent head-to-head clashes, winning 4 of the last 5. But Pakistan’s recent World Cup form has been sharp, and on a big night in Colombo, form lines can be forgotten in a heartbeat.
Match Details at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 41st Match, Super Eights Group 2 |
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Date & Time | February 21, 2026 — 7:00 PM local |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025/26 |
| Match Referee | Richie Richardson |
| Umpires | Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker |
Pakistan vs New Zealand Head to Head — Last 5 T20Is
Let’s get straight to what matters. New Zealand have been utterly dominant in recent encounters, and Pakistan need to reverse that trend tonight.
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| March 26, 2025 | New Zealand won by 8 wickets (60 balls remaining) |
| March 23, 2025 | New Zealand won by 115 runs |
| March 21, 2025 | Pakistan won by 9 wickets (24 balls remaining) |
| March 18, 2025 | New Zealand won by 5 wickets (11 balls remaining) |
| March 16, 2025 | New Zealand won by 9 wickets (59 balls remaining) |
New Zealand have won 4 of the last 5 T20Is against Pakistan. Two of those wins came by massive margins. Pakistan’s only win in this stretch was a 9-wicket thrashing going the other way, so when Pakistan click, they click hard. Tonight’s match is genuinely 50-50 on any given night.
Pakistan Possible Playing XI
Salman Agha leads a Pakistan side that has shown resilience in the tournament. With the group stage finished, check the full Pakistan squad and team details before the toss.
Based on the squad and current form, Pakistan’s likely XI:
- Saim Ayub
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Babar Azam
- Fakhar Zaman
- Salman Agha (c)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Shadab Khan
- Faheem Ashraf
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Abrar Ahmed
Wicketkeeper options: Khawaja Nafay or Usman Khan depending on team balance
Pakistan Players to Watch
Sahibzada Farhan has been in brilliant form — 308 runs from 9 matches at a strike rate of 150+. He is Pakistan’s form batter right now. Mohammad Nawaz leads the bowling attack with 15 wickets at an economy of 6.71, while Abrar Ahmed (14 wickets, 6.39 economy) adds serious mystery spin bite.
New Zealand Possible Playing XI
New Zealand enter this match on the back of strong recent H2H dominance, and their squad has match-winners throughout the order. Track the Super Eights Group 2 standings to see exactly what tonight’s result means for both sides.
New Zealand’s expected XI:
- Tim Seifert (wk)
- Finn Allen
- Devon Conway
- Glenn Phillips
- Daryl Mitchell
- Mark Chapman
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Michael Bracewell
- Jacob Duffy
- Matt Henry
- Lockie Ferguson
New Zealand Players to Watch
Glenn Phillips is New Zealand’s standout batter in recent form — 295 runs from 9 matches at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 164. He is dangerous at any position. Tim Seifert has been equally impressive with 276 runs from 8 games. With the ball, Jacob Duffy leads New Zealand’s attack with 13 wickets, though his economy of 10.25 could be a vulnerability Pakistan’s batters will target.
Recent Form Comparison
| Team | Last 5 Match Results |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | W W W L W |
| New Zealand | L W W L W |
Pakistan’s recent form is actually slightly stronger heading into tonight — three wins on the bounce before a loss, then back to winning. New Zealand dropped two of their last five but remain a potent side on their day.
Key Battle to Watch: Abrar Ahmed vs Glenn Phillips
This is the match-within-the-match. Abrar’s googly and mystery variations against Phillips’ aggressive, unorthodox stroke play. If Abrar can keep Phillips quiet or dismiss him early, Pakistan’s path to victory opens up significantly. If Phillips gets going, New Zealand can post any total on the Premadasa surface.
What Both Teams Need Tonight
Pakistan need to break the recent H2H curse and prove their Super Eight form is for real. A win keeps their semi-final hopes firmly alive. New Zealand need to back up their H2H dominance with a performance that cements their position at the top of Group 2. Follow every ball from tonight’s clash via the T20 WC 2026 live streaming section.
This is a match neither side can afford to lose. Expect full intensity from the first ball.
FAQs
What time does Pakistan vs New Zealand start at T20 WC 2026? The match starts at 7:00 PM local time (IST 8:30 PM) on February 21, 2026, at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
What is the head-to-head record between Pakistan and New Zealand in T20Is? In the last 5 T20Is, New Zealand have won 4 and Pakistan have won 1.
Who is Pakistan’s captain for T20 World Cup 2026? Salman Agha is captaining Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Who are the key players to watch in Pakistan vs New Zealand tonight? Sahibzada Farhan and Abrar Ahmed for Pakistan; Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert for New Zealand.
Where is Pakistan vs New Zealand Super Eight match being played? R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
What happens if Pakistan lose tonight? A defeat would severely damage Pakistan’s semi-final chances in Super Eights Group 2, depending on other results.
