New Zealand and Pakistan will share the points after rain forced a washout in Colombo. Officials waited more than two hours from the scheduled start for the weather to improve, but the steady drizzle that began at the toss only grew heavier and never relented.
With puddles forming on the covers and no sign of improvement overhead, the umpires made the inevitable call.
There had been a strong chance of showers as toss time approached. Pakistan’s evening training session the previous day had been cancelled because of rain. At the toss, which Pakistan won with Salman Agha choosing to bat, a drizzle began while the captains were speaking and the ground staff moved the covers into position. From then on, the fate of the game was sealed.
Pakistan left Khawaja Nafay out and brought in Fakhar Zaman, while New Zealand made three changes, including the return of captain Mitchell Santner to the XI.
Both teams have opened their Super Eight campaigns but are left with little room for error. Pakistan will play England next on Tuesday and Sri Lanka a week from today, while New Zealand face Sri Lanka on Wednesday and England on Friday. All games in this group are being played in Sri Lanka.