Punjab Kings (PBKS) all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai got run out in a huge mix-up with Mohammad Nabi during the 2026 T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Chennai on Sunday, February 8. There was no chance of a double, but Omarzai went for it, getting out for 14 runs off seven deliveries. Nonetheless, it was the last ball of the innings.

The dismissal came as Nabi guided a short-length ball by Lockie Ferguson towards deep cover, and James Neesham collected it and got rid of it quickly. The bowler collected the ball on one bounce and broke the stumps in a flash.

Watch the video below:

pic.twitter.com/l1AlVpL87K

— Avijit (@Avijit10134486) February 8, 2026

New Zealand Begins T20 World Cup 2026 With Five-Wicket Win Over Afghanistan

New Zealand started their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a five-wicket win over Afghanistan. The victory also helped the Black Caps avenge their loss to Afghanistan in the 2024 edition of the tournament.

Afghanistan batted first and scored 182/6 in their 20 overs. Gulbadin Naib was the top scorer with 65 off 35 balls, hitting four sixes and three fours. Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz also made useful contributions. For New Zealand, Lockie Ferguson picked up two wickets, while Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and Rachin Ravindra took one wicket each.

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Tim Seifert Leads New Zealand’s Chase

Chasing 183, New Zealand reached the target with 2.1 overs to spare. They lost two early wickets as Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed Finn Allen for 1 and Rachin Ravindra for 0. Tim Seifert led the chase with a strong knock of 65 off 42 balls, including three sixes and seven fours.

Glenn Phillips added 42 off 25 balls, while Mark Chapman scored 28 off 17 balls. Daryl Mitchell and captain Mitchell Santner stayed unbeaten on 25 off 14 balls and 17 off 8 balls to take the team home. For Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid Khan picked up one wicket each.

New Zealand will next play the UAE in Chennai on Tuesday, February 10. Afghanistan will face South Africa in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, February 11.

The historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Noida has been marred by severe outfield issues, leading to four consecutive session delays. Despite minimal rainfall, the match has turned into a logistical disaster as the poor drainage system and substandard outfield conditions have prevented any play from happening so far.

Wet outfield and poor drainage delay play for two days

Day 1 of the Test witnessed a complete washout, with no balls bowled due to the wet conditions on the field. Although there was brief rain in the evening of Day 1, no precipitation followed thereafter. However, the outfield remained waterlogged, and the groundsmen were unable to prepare the field for play, delaying the start of Day 2 as well. The situation led to frustrations as the field remained unplayable for an extended period.

#Afghanistan vs #New Zealand, Only Test at Greater Noida, #AFG vs NZ, Sep 09 2024 - Live #Cricket Score
Match delayed by a #wet #outfield
12.25pm We hear that the New Zealand team bus has arrived now pic.twitter.com/NufmxwQ9ua

— Abdul Jabbar (@AbdulJabba44077) September 10, 2024

Bizarre masures to dry outfield raise eyebrows

On Day 2, in a desperate attempt to get the game started, the ground staff resorted to unusual methods. Visuals showed them cutting grass patches from drier parts of the field and placing them over the wet areas. Additionally, fans were brought onto the ground to speed up the drying process. Despite the efforts of 20-25 workers, including 15 outsourced personnel, the conditions remained far from ideal. The first session ended without a toss being conducted.

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Reports also revealed that the ground management brought in five super soppers—two automatic and three manual—to help dry the field, but the process was slow and ineffective. To make matters worse, the covers used to protect the pitch were rented from a local tent house, indicating the venue’s lack of readiness for hosting a Test match. The lackluster preparations have tarnished the reputation of the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, which was hosting its first-ever Test match.