Will Babar Azam play tonight in NZ vs PAK Super 8 clash of T20 World Cup 2026?
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Babar Azam hasn’t been at his best with the bat for Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.
New Zealand and Pakistan will kick off the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on February 21, in a highly anticipated clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Both teams arrive with strong group-stage showings.
New Zealand, under Mitchell Santner, boasts an impressive record with just one loss (to South Africa) and dominant batting firepower from Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips, plus effective seam-spin options.
Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, delivered a crushing win over Namibia, relying heavily on their potent spin attack featuring mystery spinners in Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed. Sahibzada Farhan’s explosive form including a recent century makes him a key threat upfront, while Babar Azam aims to find consistency.
Will Babar Azam play tonight in NZ vs PAK Super 8 clash of T20 World Cup 2026?
Babar Azam might not be certain to compete in the Super 8 fixture against New Zealand. He has scored just 66 runs at the conclusion of the group-stage matches, and with Fakhar Zaman on bench, things might work in Babar’s favour now.
Azam has found himself at the centre of discussion after not being sent out to bat against Namibia, with coach Mike Hesson highlighting his inability to score runs quickly, at a higher strike rate.
“It’s the role the team requires, and Babar is well aware of that. I think he’s well aware his strike rate in the powerplay in World Cups is less than 100… We brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup. We wanted some batsmanship through the middle… He’s a fine player through the middle if required… once he gets set, he can increase his strike rate”, said Hesson ahead of Pakistan’s crucial clash.
Zaman, on the other hand, has a good record in T20Is, and with his ability to take on the bowlers right from the start, he could be X-factor that Pakistan need.
When is the NZ vs PAK Super 8 match scheduled?
The match will be played on February 21, 2026, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Will Babar Azam play against NZ?
No, Babar is not expected play against New Zealand.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.