Washout takes Zimbabwe into Super Eight; Ireland and Australia knocked out

Zimbabwe have qualified for the Super Eight stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup after rain washed out their game against Ireland.

After their victories over Oman and Australia, Zimbabwe needed just a point to secure qualification, and with persistent rain in Pallekele, the match was abandoned without a toss. The game was called off at 5:30pm local time, two and a half hours after the scheduled start. The washout also guarantees Australia's elimination after their defeat to Sri Lanka on Monday night left them stranded on two points.

Well before the game was due to begin, blue covers shielded the entirety of the Pallekele square and the rest of the ground. There were large puddles forming on the covers, and though the rain was never torrential, a persistent drizzle meant the groundstaff were largely reduced to the role of drying out the covers periodically.

Zimbabwe will enter a group that also features India, West Indies and South Africa, with the top two going through to the semi-finals. Ireland, who also had a brief chance at qualification with the win, will exit the tournament. It is the first time Zimbabwe have progressed to the Super Eight stage of a World Cup, two years after they didn't qualify for the event itself in 2024.