New Zealand and Pakistan meet at R. Premadasa Stadium tonight in their historic 50th T20I encounter, with Pakistan leading 24-23 in head-to-head wins.
Both teams enter the Super 8s with three group victories but carry the sting of defeats to their biggest rivals: New Zealand fell to South Africa, and Pakistan lost to India by 61 runs.
Recent changes define both camps: Pakistan dropped Shaheen Afridi and demoted Babar Azam, while New Zealand welcome back captain Mitchell Santner from illness.
With rain forecasted and a low, slow pitch expected, this Super 8 opener could set the tone. Let’s explore where you can watch this pivotal encounter live.
New Zealand vs Pakistan Match Details – T20 World Cup 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | New Zealand vs Pakistan (41st Match, Super 8 Group 2) |
| Date | Saturday, February 21, 2026 |
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Time | 7:00 PM LOCAL / 1:30 PM GMT / 7:00 PM IST |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Super 8s |
Where to Watch NZ vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 Live?
New Zealand fans can watch the match live on Sky Sport NZ with streaming available on Sky Go and TVNZ+. Pakistani viewers can access the game through PTV Sports, Ten Sports, and ASports with streaming on Myco, Tapmad, and Tamasha. Indian audiences can tune in via Star Sports on Jio Hotstar.
Live Streaming by Country
| Country | TV Broadcaster | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Go, TVNZ+ |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Ten Sports, ASports | Myco, Tapmad, Tamasha |
| India | Star Sports | JioHotstar |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports | Sky Go, NOW |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow by Cricbuzz |
| Australia | Fox Cricket, Nine Network | Amazon Prime Video, Kayo |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport App, DStv |
| Sri Lanka | TV Supreme, Dialog TV | ICC.tv, Sirasa TV |
| Bangladesh | Gazi TV, T Sports | Rabbithole |
| Middle East | — | ICC.tv |
| Rest of World | Varies by country | ICC.tv |
Live Streaming Apps for T20 World Cup 2026
For fans on the go, several mobile apps offer live streaming of T20 World Cup 2026 matches. Here’s a comprehensive list of official streaming applications:
| App Name | Available In | Platform | Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| JioHotstar | India | iOS, Android | Free with Jio / Paid Premium |
| ICC.tv | Global | iOS, Android, Web | Pay-per-match / Tournament pass |
| Willow by Cricbuzz | USA, Canada | iOS, Android | Subscription required |
| Sky Go | UK, New Zealand | iOS, Android | Sky subscription required |
| Kayo Sports | Australia | iOS, Android, Web | Subscription required |
| Amazon Prime Video | Australia, Select regions | iOS, Android, Fire TV, Web | Prime membership required |
| SuperSport App | South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa | iOS, Android | DStv subscription required |
| TVNZ+ | New Zealand | iOS, Android, Web | Free with ads |
| NOW | United Kingdom | iOS, Android, Web | Day/Month pass available |
| Tapmad | Pakistan | iOS, Android | Free & Premium tiers |
| Tamasha | Pakistan | iOS, Android, Web | Subscription required |
| Myco | Pakistan | iOS, Android | Subscription required |
The New Zealand vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport NZ with streaming on Sky Go and TVNZ+. Pakistani viewers can watch on PTV Sports, Ten Sports, and ASports with streaming on Myco, Tapmad, and Tamasha, while Indian fans can access the match via Star Sports and JioHotstar.
New Zealand vs Pakistan Probable XIs – T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan sticks with their reshuffled lineup, Shaheen Afridi dropped, Babar Azam demoted, and Khawaja Nafay replacing Abrar Ahmed. New Zealand welcomes back captain Mitchell Santner from illness. Ish Sodhi could debut on the slow Premadasa surface, potentially replacing Kyle Jamieson.
New Zealand Probable XI: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi
Pakistan Probable XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq
R. Premadasa Stadium – Pitch Report & Stats
Expect a low, slow pitch with wear and tear from earlier matches. Rain is forecasted for the latter half of the day, though Colombo forecasts shift quickly.
Pakistan’s spin-heavy approach faces New Zealand’s proficiency against slow bowling; they’re second only to India in strike-rate against spin and most effective at limiting dot balls.
Related Reads:
T20 Stats At R. Premadasa Stadium
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Total T20 Matches | 64 |
| Matches won batting first | 27 |
| Matches won bowling first | 36 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 144 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 129 |
| Highest total recorded | 215/5 (19.4 Ovs) by BAN vs SL |
| Lowest total recorded | 80/10 (17.2 Ovs) by AFG vs ENG |
| Highest score chased | 215/5 (19.4 Ovs) by BAN vs SL |
| Lowest score defended | 115/6 (20 Ovs) by RSA vs SL |
New Zealand vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Record
| Aspect | Result |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Matches | 49 |
| New Zealand Won | 23 |
| Pakistan Won | 24 |
| No Results | 2 |
| T20 World Cup Record | Pakistan 5-2 New Zealand |
| Key Wins | Pakistan won 2009 & 2022 WC semi-finals |
