The Super Eights clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played on February 21 at the R. Premadasa Stadium, with both teams arriving in strong form.
Pakistan finished the group stage with three wins in four matches. They began with a nervy three-wicket victory over the Netherlands, followed it up by beating the USA by 32 runs, and then suffered a 61-run setback against India. However, they bounced back by thrashing Namibia by 102 runs to seal qualification.
New Zealand, too, won three of their four games and finished second in their group with a net run rate. They defeated Afghanistan, UAE, and Canada convincingly, with their only loss coming against South Africa.
Here are the top 3 player battles to watch out for in NZ vs PAK, T20 WC 2026
3. Finn Allen vs Shadab Khan
The contest between Finn Allen and Shadab Khan will be fascinating. So far, Allen has dominated their head-to-head battle. In three innings against Shadab, the New Zealand opener has smashed 44 runs off just 20 balls, striking at 220.00. Shadab has managed just one dismissal, conceding runs at an economy of 13.20 in this match-up.
Allen has been in destructive touch in the tournament, with his unbeaten 84 against the UAE and a record 175-run stand with Tim Seifert. Meanwhile, Shadab has contributed as a genuine all-rounder, chipping in with crucial runs and wickets, including a three-wicket haul against Namibia.
| Matches | Innings | Runs Scored | Balls Bowled | Strike Rate | Economy Rate | Wicket Taken |
| 03 | 03 | 44 | 20 | 220.00 | 13.20 | 01 |
2. Glenn Phillips vs Usman Tariq
The upcoming Super Eight will witness star batter Glenn Phillips take on Usman Tariq for the very first time in T20Is. The two have never crossed featured together in the format. Phillips has been one of New Zealand’s most consistent performers this tournament. His unbeaten 76 against Canada and a 42 versus Afghanistan showed his ability to dominate both pace and spin.
He also chipped in with the ball, showcasing his all-round value. Meanwhile, Tariq has made headlines for more than just his wickets. His unique round-arm action and start-stop run-up have become a talking point, and he is coming off figures of 4/16 against Namibia and 3/27 versus the USA.
| Matches | Innings | Runs Scored | Balls Bowled | Strike Rate | Economy Rate | Wicket Taken |
| 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
1. Sahibzada Farhan vs Mitchell Santner
Sahibzada Farhan and Mitchell Santner have had limited battles in T20Is. In one innings against each other, Farhan managed just 2 runs, striking at 50, while Santner kept things tight with an economy of 3.00 and did not concede much room. Though there were no wickets in that particular contest.
In the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Farhan has been in sublime touch for Pakistan. After scores of 47 and 73, he smashed an unbeaten ton against Namibia in Colombo, powering his team into the Super Eights. Santner, meanwhile, has had a quieter tournament with modest returns against South Africa, UAE, and Afghanistan, and even missed a fixture due to illness.
| Matches | Innings | Runs Scored | Balls Bowled | Strike Rate | Economy Rate | Wicket Taken |
| 01 | 01 | 01 | 02 | 50.00 | 3.00 | 00 |
