Rain washout sends Zimbabwe into Super 8 as Australia Exit ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Group B fixture was scheduled to be held in Pallekele, but continuous rainfall prevented toss and no play was possible while match officials subsequently call off game, awarding one point each to both teams in accordance with tournament regulations

PALLEKELE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Feb 17^th, 2026) The 32nd match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup between the Zimbabwe national cricket team and the Ireland national cricket team was abandoned due to rain, confirming Zimbabwe’s place in the Super 8 stage and ending the campaign of the Australia national cricket team.

The Group B fixture was scheduled to be held in Pallekele, but continuous rainfall prevented the toss and no play was possible. Match officials subsequently called off the game, awarding one point each to both teams in accordance with tournament regulations.

Zimbabwe required only a single point to qualify for the Super 8 round. With the shared point, they moved to five points from three matches, securing their progression to the next stage of the tournament.

Australia, however, were left with just two points after suffering two defeats in their three group matches.

Their exit was effectively sealed following Zimbabwe’s qualification and Sri Lanka’s dominant position in the group standings.

The Sri Lanka national cricket team had earlier strengthened their campaign by defeating Australia by eight wickets, taking their tally to six points from three matches and confirming their own place in the Super 8.

imbabwe had also played a decisive role in Australia’s elimination, having previously stunned the former champions with a 23-run victory in a key group encounter.

Notably, despite winning the 2021 T20 World Cup, Australia have now failed to reach the semi-finals in three consecutive editions of the tournament, marking a disappointing phase for the former champions in the shortest format of the game.