Colombo under covers (Photo by Pratyush Raj/TimesofIndia.com)

Rain has become a big worry for the Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup Super 8 match in Colombo, and fans are wondering what happens if the game is completely washed out. This match is important because both teams want a strong start to boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

If rain washes out the match, both Pakistan and New Zealand will share one point each. For Pakistan, this means they will have two matches left in the Super 8 stage, against England and Sri Lanka. If Pakistan manage to win both of those matches, they will finish with five points, which should be enough to qualify for the semi-finals.However, things can get tricky if Pakistan lose even one of those remaining matches. If they lose one and win one, they will only have three points, and their fate will depend on other teams’ results. In that case, they would need other teams to lose matches to keep their semi-final hopes alive. If Pakistan lose both remaining games, they will be knocked out of the tournament.The same situation applies to New Zealand as well. A washout gives them a point, but they will also need wins in their other matches to secure a semi-final spot.Since this is the first match of the Super 8 stage, the full picture will only become clear after all teams have played at least one game. Both Pakistan and New Zealand are seen as strong contenders from this group, but a rain washout could make their road to the semi-finals more complicated.

R Premadasa Stadium under covers (Photo by Pratyush Raj/TimesofIndia.com)

Rain has become the main talking point ahead of the Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match in Colombo, with the weather threatening to disrupt the big clash on Saturday. Light but steady drizzle has covered the ground, and the start of the match has already been delayed. Officials have kept the pitch and outfield under covers, and fans are waiting for updates on when play can begin.

If the rain does not stop, overs will start getting cut after 8:10 PM IST (2:40 PM GMT). That means the match could be shortened, depending on how long the delay lasts. The latest possible time to start a five-overs-per-side game is 10:16 PM IST (4.46 pm GMT). If play cannot begin by then, the match could be abandoned with no result, which would be a big blow for both teams.Rain in Colombo is not new, and similar conditions forced Pakistan to cancel a practice session recently. Even today, the drizzle has been persistent, and the forecast does not look very promising. Fans and teams are hoping for a break in the weather so that at least some cricket can be played.Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first. There are also some interesting team updates. Pakistan have brought back Fakhar Zaman despite concerns over his knee, which surprised many. It will be interesting to see where he bats in the order and what role Babar Azam plays in the lineup. New Zealand have also made changes, with captain Mitchell Santner returning and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson rejoining the squad after becoming a father.Both teams reached the Super 8 stage with strong performances in the group stage, so this match is important for their World Cup campaign. However, for now, all eyes are on the sky, as rain continues to decide the fate of this high-stakes clash.New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie FergusonPakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq

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Asha Sharma (Photo credit- Microsoft)

TOI Correspondent from Washington: In a sweeping reset during Xbox’s 25th anniversary year, Satya Nadella-led Microsoft has named Asha Sharma as CEO of Microsoft Gaming, pitching another Indian-American into a leadership position at a time of intense xenophobia in MAGA circles. Wisconsin-born Sharma, 43, succeeds Phil Spencer, the widely admired Xbox chief who is retiring after nearly four decades at the company.Sharma, who has wheeled though Instacart and Meta among other companies as a senior executive, most recently served as President of CoreAI at Microsoft, where she led efforts to embed advanced models into the company’s cloud and developer stack. Before returning to Microsoft, where she had an earlier stint, Sharma was Chief Operating Officer at Instacart, helping steer the delivery platform through its IPO and a volatile post-pandemic reset. Earlier, at Meta, she oversaw product and engineering for Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct, guiding communications products used by billions. A graduate of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, Sharma’s resume reads like a map of the modern tech economy: marketplaces, social platforms, cloud, and AI. Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella praised her “deep experience building and growing platforms,” signaling that the company sees operational discipline and AI integration as critical to Xbox’s next chapter.The appointment immediately ignited debate across gaming forums and social media, with critics arguing she lacks direct experience in game development at a moment when Microsoft Gaming faces declining revenues and the complex integration of the $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition. Fans accustomed to Spencer’s gamer-first persona questioned whether an “AI specialist” might privilege algorithms over artistry.Sharma moved quickly to address the concerns in her first memo to staff and in an interview with Variety, acknowledging she has “a lot to learn” about the creative side of the business and vowed to “earn the right to be trusted.” She promised a “return of Xbox,” insisting the company would not chase short-term efficiencies or flood the ecosystem with what she called “soulless AI slop.” Games, she wrote, “are and always will be art, crafted by humans.” Sharma’s elevation places her among a cadre of Indian-American leaders running major US tech companies, including Nadella at Microsoft and Sundar Pichai at Alphabet/Google, whose subsidiary YouTube is also helmed by Indian-American Neal Mohan. For many, it is another milestone in the continued ascent of Indian-origin executives in Silicon Valley who remain uninhibited in the face of MAGA paranoia. Still, the appointment has unfolded in a fraught political moment. Online, some MAGA-aligned voices have recycled claims of corporate nepotism and “favoring their own,” casting Sharma as part of an “Indian tech-bro” archetype. The backlash comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over H-1B visas and the “America First” movement, even as Sharma’s background remains firmly rooted in the American Midwest; she was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, and built her career through mainstream US institutions and companies.Industry observers say the backlash reflects broader anxieties—about globalization, immigration, and the dominance of tech—rather than Sharma’s credentials. “In this era, a gaming CEO needs to protect creatives while navigating AI and scale,” one analyst wrote on Reddit. “You don’t need to be a hardcore gamer; you need to be a platform architect.”Microsoft Gaming is valued at roughly $80 billion and spans consoles, PC, cloud gaming, and a portfolio of studios that now includes Activision Blizzard. The mandate before Sharma is formidable: stabilize revenue, extract value from blockbuster acquisitions, and define how AI augments—rather than supplants—creative work.

NEW DELHI: Opposition leaders and Congress allies on Saturday criticised the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) over its “semi-nude” protest at the AI Impact Summit, calling the act “inappropriate” and saying it brought shame to the country on an international platform.Speaking to reporters, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “… We may have internal rifts, but what Congress did on the global platform was not appropriate.”“They should have refrained from doing something that brings shame to our country in front of foreign delegates and world representatives…” he added.These remarks come after around 10 IYC workers were detained on Friday after they briefly raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside Exhibition Hall No. 5 at Bharat Mandapam during the summit, triggering a political storm.The protesters had entered the venue wearing or holding white T-shirts bearing images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, along with slogans such as “India-US Trade Deal”, “Epstein Files” and “PM is compromised,” leading to heated exchanges with attendees.

‘They made us all feel ashamed’

YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote on X, “Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress made us all feel ashamed. Where is our politics heading! No one should ever demean our country.”“Whatever our political differences may be, we should always present a united face to the world,” he added.

‘Utterly unbecoming and reprehensible’

BSP president Mayawati also expressed the same sentiment saying that at an internationally significant event like the ‘AI Impact Summit’, “any expression of anger through semi-nudity by those who did so during this event—most of whom are said to be young Congress members—is utterly unbecoming and reprehensible.”“Had this conference not been of international stature, it would have been a different matter altogether; however, such conduct during the summit is a cause for concern, meaning it would be fitting not to tarnish the dignity and image of our country,” she posted on X.

‘There could have been better way’

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said while grievances may exist, the manner of protest could have been better.“I said this yesterday, and I’m saying it again today: grievances exist, and no one can deny that. Whether it’s about the lack of clarity in a deal or issues with Epstein files, there could have been a better way to address these concerns. In my view, the Youth Congress acted, but personally, as I see it, any movement needs to be handled responsibly,” he said.“In the past, BJP members have done similar things, but that doesn’t make it right for anyone. The point is, grievances exist, people especially a section of farmers are worried, and there could have been a better option for how and where these concerns were expressed,” he added.The ruling BJP had on Friday slammed the Congress and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over the shirtless protest, calling it a “despicable act.”BJP MP Sambit Patra said, “Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party are traitors of the highest order. The nation’s biggest traitors. Wherever the country progresses, wherever happiness prevails, they will surely spoil it. These are traitors…I have only three words for Congress: topless, brainless, shameless.”“Today, they went topless, brainless. Congress doesn’t have that much wisdom that this AI summit that is going on is not a BJP summit. This is an AI summit of the entire world,” he added.Later in a statement, the Indian Youth Congress defended its action, saying its workers were protesting against a “compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit.”“That is why the fearless workers of the Indian Youth Congress arrived at Bharat Mandapam.. so that a voice can be raised against the ‘Compromised PM’ and the Modi government is forced to answer for the compromises being made on the country’s honour!” it added.

At the centre of these disputes are innocent lives — lost or permanently altered in a matter of seconds. Families are left grieving and survivors carry injuries that may last a lifetime. Beyond the legal battle and the shifting claims, it is the human cost that remains the most irreversible.NEW DELHI: In the aftermath of a serious road crash involving a luxury vehicle, a familiar refrain often echoes through police stations and courtrooms, “He was not driving. I was.”It is a defence that has surfaced repeatedly in some of most high-profile accident cases — particularly those involving influential families, celebrities or powerful business figures. The recent Lamborghini crash in Kanpur has once again drawn attention to this pattern.

Speeding Lamborghini crashes into vehicles in Kanpur

The crash, which injured several pedestrians, quickly turned into a dispute over who was behind the wheel. The family of the accused claimed that a chauffeur had been driving at the time of the accident.Investigators, however, cited CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts and other evidence that allegedly placed tobacco baron’s son Shivam Mishra in the driver’s seat.

The case has revived scrutiny of a recurring legal strategy in luxury-car crashes: attributing responsibility to a hired driver.

The Pune Porsche case (2024)

In May 2024, a Porsche allegedly driven by a 17-year-old in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area killed two IT professionals. The case sparked nationwide outrage.

According to police, attempts were made to portray the family’s driver as the person at the wheel. Investigators later said the driver was allegedly pressured to take responsibility. The minor’s father and grandfather were arrested in connection with alleged tampering of evidence.

People take part in a candlelight vigil march to pay condolences to motorbikers who were killed after being knocked down by a porsche car, in Pune. (PTI Photo)

The case highlighted not only questions of juvenile culpability but also the vulnerability of hired drivers in high-profile investigations.

In April 2016, a 32-year-old IT professional was killed in a hit-and-run in Delhi’s Civil Lines area after being struck by a Mercedes allegedly driven by a minor.Soon after the incident, the family’s chauffeur approached the police claiming he had been driving. However, during questioning, he allegedly told investigators that he had been pressured to assume responsibility.

In April 2016, a 32-year-old IT professional was killed in a hit-and-run in Delhi’s Civil Lines

Police relied on forensic analysis and circumstantial evidence to determine that the minor was behind the wheel at the time of the crash. The case reinforced a pattern seen in earlier investigations — an initial claim by a driver followed by scrutiny of the circumstances under which the claim was made.

The Salman Khan case (2002)

Perhaps the most widely reported example remains the 2002 Mumbai hit-and-run case involving actor Salman Khan.On September 28, 2002, a Toyota Land Cruiser rammed into people sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai’s Bandra area, killing one person and injuring four others. The question of who was driving became central to the trial.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan on his arrival at a court in Mumbai, on May 06, 2015 to attend the final verdict of a 12 years old ‘hit & run’ case. (Image Credit: Times Content/TOI Archives)

Years later, in 2015, Khan’s driver told a court that he had been behind the wheel at the time of the accident. Prosecutors argued that evidence placed Khan in the driver’s seat and described the driver as a “self-condemned liar”.In 2015, the Bombay high court acquitted Khan, granting him the benefit of the doubt after noting inconsistencies in the prosecution’s evidence.

The 1999 BMW hit-and-run case in Delhi marked one of the earliest high-profile instances where driver identity became a flashpoint.On January 10, 1999, a BMW car ran over and killed six people, including three policemen, at Lodhi Road. During the investigation, attempts were reportedly made to suggest that someone other than businessman Sanjeev Nanda was driving.

The damaged BMW car that was driven over six people by Sanjeev Nanda, grandson of former Naval chief S M Nanda, in the year 1999. (TOI Archive/Times Content Image)

The case ultimately hinged on witness testimony and forensic evidence. In 2008, Nanda was convicted by the trial court. The case underscored the increasing reliance on forensic reconstruction in accident probes.

In April 2013, an Audi ran over a traffic constable near Park Street in Kolkata. During the probe, there were reported attempts to cloud the identity of the person driving at the time of impact.Police examined CCTV footage and forensic evidence to fix responsibility. The case demonstrated how surveillance footage has become a crucial tool in resolving disputes over driver identity.

Chennai luxury SUV crash (2019)

In Chennai in 2019, a high-end SUV allegedly caused a fatal accident. Family members claimed a hired driver had been operating the vehicle.Investigators reportedly questioned inconsistencies in statements and examined technical evidence to verify the claim. The case drew attention to what many see as a predictable defence in crashes involving powerful individuals.

A recurring pattern

Across these cases, certain themes recur. Luxury vehicles. Influential families or prominent individuals. Serious casualties. And almost immediately, a claim that a hired driver was responsible.For investigators, determining who was behind the wheel can be complex. Modern accident probes increasingly rely on CCTV footage, call data records, injury mapping, seat-position analysis and forensic reconstruction. In several of these cases, technical and circumstantial evidence has played a decisive role in either reinforcing or contradicting initial claims.Courts have, in different cases, reached different conclusions — from acquittals to convictions — depending on the strength of evidence presented.For families of victims, however, the debate over driver identity can feel secondary to the loss suffered. For hired drivers, these cases sometimes raise uncomfortable questions about vulnerability and power dynamics in moments of crisis.What remains consistent is the pattern: in high-profile road crashes, the battle often begins not only over what happened — but over who was at the wheel.

The tension at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is palpable as the opening Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 remains in a state of limbo. While Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bat first, the weather had other plans, with a heavy downpour forcing the ground staff to bring the covers on before a single ball could be bowled. The “waiting game” is now in full swing, and both teams are currently confined to their dressing rooms as the rain intensity fluctuates. Fans are glued to the radar, hoping for a window of play in what is a crucial encounter for Group 2.

T20 World Cup 2026: Is there a reserve day for the Pakistan vs New Zealand game?

To the immense frustration of fans and tacticians alike, there is strictly no reserve day available for the Pakistan vs. New Zealand Super 8 fixture. The ICC tournament regulations for 2026 are explicit: reserve days are an exclusive luxury for the Knockout Stage, meaning only the two semi-finals and the grand final have a 24-hour backup plan. If the clouds do not break and the pitch remains under covers tonight, there is no option to resume the contest tomorrow; the game will be recorded exactly as it stands, or fails to stand.

“According to International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, reserve days are kept only for the knockout matches. The semifinals and the final have one reserve day each in the T20 World Cup 2026. At least a five-over match is required for a result to come out.”

The match officials have activated an additional 90-minute buffer to compensate for the delay, but the time for a full 20-over game has already evaporated. We are now approaching the critical 8:10 PM IST mark, after which overs will begin to be deducted systematically.

T20 World Cup 2026: What happens next if Pakistan vs New Zealand is washed out?

If the rain continues to lash the R. Premadasa Stadium and the match is officially abandoned, the consequences for Group 2 will be seismic. Per ICC rules, a “No Result” declaration means both Pakistan and New Zealand will share 1 point each. While this keeps both teams on the board, it is a nightmare scenario in a group that includes heavyweights England and Sri Lanka, where every decimal point in the Net Run Rate (NRR) and every outright win is worth its weight in gold.

“In case the Pakistan vs. New Zealand clash gets washed out due to rain, both teams will share points, which will further dent their chances of a semifinal entry. The final time for a five-overs-per-side contest is 10:16 PM IST.”

A washout would essentially turn the remaining two matches for both sides into “must-win” virtual quarter-finals. Pakistan would head into their February 24 clash against England under massive pressure, knowing that any further slip-up would end their World Cup dreams. For now, all eyes are on the 10:16 PM IST cut-off—the absolute latest moment a 5-over-a-side “sprint” can begin to determine a winner on the field rather than in the points table