The two sides will meet at the R. Premadasa Stadium as the Super 8 stage gets underway.

Cricket observers expect a closely fought contest, given the competitive history between the teams in recent years.

Since January 2022, Pakistan and New Zealand have faced each other 24 times in T20 Internationals. New Zealand have won 13 matches, while Pakistan have claimed nine victories.

Notably, Pakistan defeated New Zealand in the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Sydney — a landmark win for the Green Shirts.

In the ongoing tournament, both teams have shown inconsistency. New Zealand finished second in their group after losing to South Africa, while Pakistan secured second place in their group following a defeat to India.

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, will rely heavily on their bowling attack featuring Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and Santner.

Pakistan, under Salman Ali Agha, will look to address batting concerns, with in-form opener Sahibzada Farhan expected to provide a strong start.

According to weather forecasts cited by Indian outlet News18, there is a 74 per cent chance of rain in Colombo on match day, particularly around 7:00 p.m. local time. Early overs could be affected, and a delayed start is possible if conditions deteriorate.

Strong winds are also forecast, with temperatures expected to range between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius and humidity levels above 80 per cent.

Under ICC regulations, there is no reserve day for Super 8 matches. If rain prevents both teams from completing at least five overs per innings, the match will be abandoned, and each side will be awarded one point.