The UAE vs New Zealand match in Group D of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 brings together a strong New Zealand unit against an improving UAE side looking to make an impact on the global stage. The 11th match of the tournament will be first match for the UAE while second for the Kiwis - who will be entering the game after the win against Afghanistan. Since Group D is called "Group of Death" - each and every match is crucial for all the teams of this group, especially for South Africa, New Zealand, and Afghanistan who eye Super 8 spot.
UAE vs New Zealand Toss Prediction
The surface for this match traditionally supports teams batting first, especially in afternoon conditions. As the pitch slows down, stroke-making becomes harder against spin. Captains generally prefer to set a target.
Toss Prediction: Team winning the toss is likely to bat first. As per the toss luck, it looks like that New Zealand will win the toss against UAE.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2026: Netherlands vs Namibia - Toss Prediction, Playing 11, Weather Forecast, Pitch Reports & More
Probable Playing XI for New Zeland vs UAE
New Zealand:
Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi
UAE:
Muhammad Waseem, Vriitya Aravind (wk), Alishan Sharafu, Asif Khan, Rameez Shahzad, Basil Hameed, Aayan Afzal Khan, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan, Akif Raja, Sanchit Sharma
Pitch Report
The pitch is expected to assist spinners in the middle overs, while batters who apply themselves early can score freely. A par score is likely to be around 170 runs. Batting first, if the team is able to lock 170 runs, they will find themselves on the driving seat.
Weather Forecast
Hot and dry conditions are expected with temperatures around 30°C. Humidity may test players’ fitness, but rain is not expected.
Match Preview
New Zealand’s depth in both batting and bowling makes them firm favorites. UAE will need an exceptional top-order performance and early wickets to stay competitive. It looks like that New Zealand will make it 2 in 2, as they are really strong on papers. However, it will be interesting to see if UAE can make an upset.
