Now the Super-8 matches have started in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Now the real battle for the trophy has started between 8 teams. First of all New Zealand and Pakistan are face to face. The match between New Zealand and Pakistan is being played at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first. Today Fakhar Zaman has got a chance. New Zealand has made three changes in its playing eleven.

Pakistan or New Zealand, who is ahead in head to head?

Till now, a total of 49 T20 International matches have been played between Pakistan and New Zealand. In these matches, Pakistan has gained the lead and has won 24, while the Kiwi team has won the remaining 23 matches. Now it will be interesting to see which team prevails over whom in the battle of Super-8.

R Premadasa Stadium pitch report

In the league stage of the tournament, the pitch of R Premadasa Stadium has appeared more effective for the spinners. It is not at all easy to score fast runs on this ground. The ball comes with a slight halt, due to which the batsmen face difficulty in playing. While fast bowlers may get some help in the beginning, spinners have looked more effective in the matches held so far. So far 64 T20 matches have been played on this ground, in which the teams batting first have won 27 matches, while the chasing teams have won 36. The average score of the first innings on the ground is 144 runs. Therefore, teams here can look towards victory by putting up to 170 on the board in the first innings.

Pakistan’s probable playing 11

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Aga (captain), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Khawaja Nafe, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.

New Zealand’s probable playing 11

Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi.