08 Feb, 11:33 (IST)

OUT! Lockie Ferguson gets the final laugh, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets himself bowled. Ferguson uses the slower ball to his advantage and fools the batter with a lack of pace, who went early into his drive, and managed to chop the ball onto the stumps. 

08 Feb, 11:27 (IST)

OUT! Introduction of sheer pace, and Afghanistan lose the first wicket. Lockie Ferguson comes into the attack and removes Ibrahim Zadran, who failed to capitalise on the cut shot, and manages to hand a catch at point. 

08 Feb, 11:18 (IST)

This has been a solid start by Afghanistan's openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who have been cautious in the middle. Gurbaz did survive with the wicket-keeper dropping a chance due to confusion with fielder. 

08 Feb, 11:06 (IST)

Afghanistan will hope their veteran openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran provide them a steady start. Zadran and Gurbaz will need to play out inital overs, with the new ball and fresh pitch helping the bowlers. 

08 Feb, 10:41 (IST)

Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi

08 Feb, 10:40 (IST)

New Zealand XI: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy

08 Feb, 10:32 (IST)

TOSS! Afghanistan win toss, and captain Rashid Khan opts to bat first against New Zealand in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener. 

08 Feb, 10:24 (IST)

Hello and welcome to LatestLY's coverage of the NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup 2026 match, which is taking place in Chennai. NZ will look to avenge their defeat from the last edition, while AFG will aim to continue their winning run here as well. 

New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Live Score Updates:  New Zealand and Afghanistan are set to face off in a high-stakes Group D opener on February 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. You can find the New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team match scorecard here. As the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 moves into its second day, both sides are looking to secure an early advantage in what has been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’. With South Africa also looming in the standings, this morning's fixture in Chennai could prove pivotal for Super 8 qualification. Today's Cricket Match Live: Check ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule for February 8 .

NZ vs AFG Team Form

For the Black Caps, this match is about more than just points; it is about redemption. In the 2024 edition of the tournament, Afghanistan famously bowled New Zealand out for just 75 runs, a result that ultimately led to the Kiwis' early exit.

New Zealand enters this tournament following a challenging 4-1 series loss to India. However, the squad remains optimistic that the exposure to Indian conditions during that series has prepared them for the challenges of this World Cup. Afghanistan, conversely, arrives with momentum after a recent 2-1 series victory over the West Indies. ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table With Net Run-Rate (NRR).

New Zealand National Cricket Team Squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Adam Milne

Afghanistan National Cricket Team Squad: Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran.