Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign begins on Saturday, February 7, but even before a ball is bowled, rain has emerged as the biggest concern. Pakistan face the Netherlands in their opening group game at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, a venue that has already seen multiple washouts in the lead-up to the tournament.
Colombo’s weather has a habit of interfering with cricket, and Pakistan know this better than most. During the 2025 Women’s World Cup, three of Pakistan’s matches at the same venue were abandoned due to rain, with several others disrupted. The forecast for February 7 suggests little has changed.
Match details: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
- Match: Pakistan vs Netherlands
- Date: February 7, 2026
- Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
- Toss: 10:30 AM
- Start: 11:00 AM (local time)
What makes this match particularly important is Pakistan’s decision to boycott their group game against India on February 15 following government instructions. That decision has left Pakistan with virtually no room for error in the rest of the group.
Colombo Weather report for Pakistan vs Netherlands
The forecasts is bad in Colombo. BBC Weather predicts a 37 percent chance of rain at toss time, with showers remaining a possibility through the afternoon. AccuWeather is far more pessimistic, forecasting a spike in rain probability during the middle of the day. Weather.com has also warned of scattered thunderstorms later in the afternoon, raising concerns about the second half of the match.
Rain has already caused problems in Colombo. Pakistan’s warm-up match against Ireland and Australia’s fixture against the Netherlands were both washed out without a single delivery being bowled.
Hourly rain forecast (February 7 – Colombo)
| Time | Rain Probability |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | 5% |
| 12:00 PM | 8% |
| 1:00 PM | 60% |
| 2:00 PM | 68% |
| 3:00 PM | 66% |
| 4:00 PM | 30% |
| 5:00 PM | 24% |
Why a washout could hurt Pakistan badly
The entire tournament could be decided for Pakistan if the PAK vs NED game is washed out. With the India match already written off due to the boycott, Pakistan are effectively playing a shortened group stage. If the Netherlands game is washed out, Pakistan can only reach a maximum of five points even if they beat the USA and Namibia.
That scenario brings the Netherlands right into the picture. Wins against the USA and Namibia would also put the Dutch on five points, leaving qualification to be decided on net run rate. With Pakistan already set to forfeit one match, their NRR could be under pressure from the outset.
