Match / League / Season: New Zealand vs United Arab Emirates, Match 11, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Group Tuesday, 10 February 2026 Time: 15:00 local (IST: 15:00) Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
MA Chidambaram Stadium at Chepauk is famous for assisting finger spin, and flat, low‑movement tracks usually reward guys who can read the line early and back their shots against turn. Recent T20 numbers show that average first‑innings scores hover in the mid‑150s, with 170–189 being a competitive but hittable range rather than a fortress total.
Weather in Chennai on 10 February looks settled but humid, with clear skies and temperatures around the low‑ to mid‑30s °C during the evening twilight phase. There is little chance of rain cutting the match short, which points towards a full‑length game where both batting line‑ups will have the chance to run the scoreboard up, especially if the powerplay is negotiated calmly.
For New Zealand, this is about converting pressure into points before the group gets tight. After a strong start against Afghanistan—when they chased 183 inside 18 overs with a calm finish—the BlackCaps will need to keep that winning run going and not grant UAE cheap momentum in Group D. A dominant showing here would put them in the early‑race driver’s seat, whereas a horror evening against the UAE could allow other sides to close the gap at the top.
New Zealand’s opening victory against Afghanistan set a high bar. They were sloppy in parts with the ball, leaking 182/6, but the chase was controlled mainly by Tim Seifert’s 65 and Glenn Phillips’ 42, with contributions down the order guiding them home with almost two overs in hand.
UAE, on the other hand, head into this match after mixed warm‑ups. They lost to Nepal by seven wickets while defending 145/6, and then got hammered by Italy, losing by 112 runs after failing to chase 193/7. Despite those setbacks, their core T20 numbers against full‑member teams suggest they are no pushovers.
NZ vs UAE Match Details
- Match: New Zealand vs United Arab Emirates, 11th Match
- Teams: NZ vs UAE
- Date: 11 Feb 2026
- Time: 2:30 PM 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM LOCAL
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
T20 World 2026 Live Streaming Info
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off on February 7, 2026, and wraps up with the final on March 8, 2026. Hosted across India and Sri Lanka with 20 teams, it spans about a month—group stages from early February, Super 8s mid-month, semis late February/early March, and the final in Colombo or Mumbai.
- In India, tune into Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2) or stream on Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.
- Pakistan viewers can watch on PTV Sports, A Sports, or Ten Sports, with streaming available on Tapmad and Tamasha.
- For Sri Lanka, options include SLRC, Channel Eye, and Siyatha TV on TV, plus Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube and Dialog ViU online.
- UK fans have Sky Sports Cricket, TNT Sports 1, and talkSPORT on television, alongside Sky Go, Discovery+, and NOW TV for streaming.
- In South Africa, SuperSport covers it on TV and via their app.
- Australia might check Fox Sports for TV and Kayo Sports for live streams.
- USA and Canada: Willow TV on TV, Sling TV or Willow HD app for streaming.
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ on TV and Sky Go app.
- Bangladesh: Gazi TV (GTV) and Rabith BD app.
- Afghanistan: RTA Sport and Ariana TV.
Rest of the world: ICC.tv for free streaming where no local rights holder exists. Subscriptions often apply, and VPNs can assist with geo-blocks where permitted.
How to Watch the Match for Free:
Catch every boundary without paying via these official free options, perfect for fans in Pakistan and beyond.
Pakistan: PTV Sports broadcasts all matches live for free on TV via terrestrial, cable, and satellite—no subscription needed.
Live Streaming Info:
The 11th T20 World Cup match will be live on Star Sports.
Live Score Info:
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: All matches on ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
Probable XIs
Probable XI (New Zealand):
Probable XI: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy / Ish Sodhi.
Probable XI (UAE):
Probable XI: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Mayank Kumar, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah
Head‑to‑head and past meetings
On paper, New Zealand hold all the advantages. The two sides faced off only once in August 2023, in a T20I at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, as part of a short bilateral series. New Zealand won that match by 19 runs, with Tim Southee taking the Player of the Match award, and they ultimately took the series as well.
Head‑to‑Head summary (T20Is):
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Total matches played: 1
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New Zealand wins: 1
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United Arab Emirates wins: 0
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No‑results / ties: 0
Given this minimal history, very little can be read into traditional “patterns.” Instead, the script‑writing will lean on how New Zealand manage Chepauk’s spin‑friendly surface and whether UAE can adapt their batting game‑plan to India‑type conditions.
Team analysis
New Zealand – strengths and key players
The BlackCaps’ biggest strength is a battery of experienced match‑winners who have played through multiple World Cups. Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips were solid at the top in the win vs Afghanistan, giving the middle order time to rotate strike and finish strongly. Below them, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman add stability, while all‑rounders like Jimmy Neesham and Mitchell Santner can swing the rhythm at either change of ends with lower‑order batting and middle‑overs economy.
Their pace attack, led by Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, can hit awkward lengths and nudge speeds close to the mid‑140s, but the real value in India will come from their spin options—Santner at the death and a second‑change spinner to work with any turn on offer at Chepauk.
Weaknesses:
If the Kiwi pacers go flat and struggle with full‑length line ball, the UAE middle order—with compact shot‑selection players—can target them in the middle overs. Also, any lapse in new‑ball discipline could see an uncharacteristically high score posted against them on a surface that still rewards boundaries through the ring.
United Arab Emirates – strengths and key players
UAE’s strength lies in their adaptability and power‑hitters in the top four. Muhammad Waseem, Alishan Sharafu, and promising performers higher up the order can put pressure on opposition new‑ballers if they get off to a fluid start. Behind them, Sohaib Khan and other younger all‑rounders give UAE a couple of extra wrists with the ball, crucial in a spin‑heavy lineup where part‑timers need to plug overs without getting carted.
With over a decade of consistent associate‑level cricket and an increasing number of wins against Test‑playing nations, UAE tactically understand how to stay competitive even when the gap in overall quality feels large. Their best chance here will be to bowl straight, limit boundaries in the powerplay, and grind New Zealand into a middle‑overs contest they aren’t used to at this level.
Weaknesses:
Recent warm‑up losses showed fragility against pace and against disciplined run‑chasing tactics. When Italy posted 193/7 and then bowled UAE out for well short of the target, it highlighted how a strong batting performance from the opposition can quickly expose their bowling group’s fragility under scoreboard pressure. If New Zealand’s powerplay scoring either booms or merely ticks over instead of exploding, UAE might lack the X‑factor to wrestle back control.
On paper, New Zealand look the clear favourite. Their depth, World Cup‑tested batting, and variety in bowling—especially in Indian conditions—give them the edge over an UAE side that has yet to prove they can sustain pressure across 40 overs in these tournaments. If NZ post a score in the 170–185 range, their spin‑heavy, versatile attack should be able to contain UAE’s more brittle batting on a surface that increasingly assists bit‑and‑hold tactics.