New Zealand will lock horns with Pakistan in the forty-first match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on 21st February at 7:00 PM IST, and both sides will aim to strengthen their position in the tournament with a crucial performance in Colombo.
Get the best NZ vs PAK Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 41st match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Expert analysis and more.
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NZ vs PAK Match Preview:
Momentum will take centre stage when New Zealand clash with Pakistan in the forty-first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday, 21 February 2026. Moreover, this Group 2 Super 8 opener will unfold at 7:00 PM IST at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where both teams will aim to stamp early authority in the second phase. The venue generally offers even conditions under lights; however, rising humidity often enhances grip for slower bowlers during the middle overs. Therefore, the captain who wins the toss might prefer to chase, especially since dew can alter bowling control later in the evening.
New Zealand advanced after finishing second in Group D, while Pakistan grabbed the final qualification spot with a decisive win in their last group fixture. Furthermore, the Black Caps enter with confidence after defeating Canada by eight wickets, completing a 174-run chase in just 15.1 overs. In contrast, Pakistan arrive with renewed belief following a commanding 102-run victory over Namibia. Consequently, both sides recognise that a win here will provide a valuable head start in a demanding Super 8 schedule.
Glenn Phillips powered New Zealand’s last win with an unbeaten 76 off 36 balls, and Rachin Ravindra added a polished 59 to accelerate the chase. Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan starred for Pakistan by smashing an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls, while Usman Tariq delivered 4 for 16 to seal dominance. Historically, Pakistan edge the rivalry 24-23 in 49 meetings, which underlines how evenly matched these teams remain. Therefore, with past encounters often producing tight finishes, this Super 8 opener promises another intense battle between two seasoned contenders.
NZ vs PAK Head-to-Head Record:
|
Teams |
Matches Won |
|
New Zealand |
23 |
|
Pakistan |
24 |
NZ vs PAK Weather & Pitch Report:
|
Temperature |
29°C |
|
Weather Forecast |
Cloudy |
|
Pitch Behaviour |
Batting-friendly |
|
Best Suited To |
Pace |
|
Average 1st innings score |
163 |
Record of chasing teams:
NZ vs PAK Playing 11s (Predicted):
New Zealand Playing 11:
1) Finn Allen
2) Tim Seifert (wk)
3) Rachin Ravindra
4) Glenn Phillips
5) Mark Chapman
6) Daryl Mitchell
7) Mitchell Santner ©
8) James Neesham
9) Matt Henry
10) Lockie Ferguson
11) Jacob Duffy
Pakistan Playing 11:
1) Sahibzada Farhan
2) Saim Ayub
3) Salman Ali Agha ©
4) Babar Azam
5) Usman Khan (wk)
6) Khawaja Nafay
7) Shadab Khan
8) Mohammad Nawaz
9) Shaheen Shah Afridi
10) Abrar Ahmed
11) Usman Tariq
Hot Picks for NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Picks:
|
Saim Ayub – Enterprising left-handed opener for Pakistan has delivered 63 runs and claimed 3 wickets in 4 outings, highlighted by career-best T20I figures of 3/25 against India that dismantled their middle order. |
|
Tim Seifert – Explosive right-handed wicketkeeper-batter for New Zealand has piled up 173 runs in 4 matches, featuring a stunning 89* off 42 balls against the UAE and a resilient 65 versus Afghanistan to rank among the tournament’s top five scorers. |
Top Picks:
|
Finn Allen – Dynamic right-handed opening batter for New Zealand has registered 118 runs in 4 appearances, consistently igniting rapid starts, including a brisk 38 that laid the foundation against South Africa. |
|
Sahibzada Farhan – Commanding the crease as a right-handed opener for Pakistan, he has amassed 220 runs in 4 fixtures, leading the World Cup charts after a magnificent unbeaten 100* against Namibia as only the second Pakistani with a T20 World Cup century. |
Budget Picks:
|
Babar Azam – Esteemed right-handed batter for Pakistan has accumulated 66 runs in 3 matches, anchoring the pursuit against the USA with a composed 46 while gearing up to spearhead the lineup in the pivotal contest versus New Zealand. |
|
Jacob Duffy – Reliable right-arm fast-medium bowler for New Zealand has secured 5 wickets in 4 games, producing a precise 2/32 against the UAE and an effective 2/50 in the high-scoring clash with Canada. |
NZ vs PAK ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:
|
Captain |
Tim Seifert & Saim Ayub |
|
Vice-Captain |
Sahibzada Farhan & Finn Allen |
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keeper – Tim Seifert ©, Finn Allen
- Batters – Salman Ali Agha, Rachin Ravindra, Sahibzada Farhan (vc)
- All-rounders – Glenn Phillips, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub
- Bowlers – Matt Henry, Usman Tariq
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keeper – Tim Seifert, Finn Allen (vc)
- Batters – Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Rachin Ravindra, Sahibzada Farhan
- All-rounders – Glenn Phillips, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub ©
- Bowlers – Jacob Duffy, Usman Tariq
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today Match 41 ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Players to Avoid:
|
Players |
Dream11 Credits |
Dream11 Points (Last match) |
|
Cole McConchie |
7.0 credits |
NA |
|
Khawaja Nafay |
7.5 credits |
NA |
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today Match 41 ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Expert Advice:
|
SL Captaincy Choice |
Tim Seifert |
|
GL Captaincy Choice |
Saim Ayub |
|
Punt Picks |
Jacob Duffy and Babar Azam |
|
Dream11 Combination |
2-3-4-2 |
NZ vs PAK Match Winner Prediction:
Considering the overall team balance and combination, New Zealand will be expected to win this match.