Colombo, February 7, 2026: Pakistan began their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a dramatic three-wicket victory over the Netherlands in a nail-biting opening match at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, on Saturday.
Chasing a competitive target, Pakistan held their nerve in a tense finish, thanks to a sensational late assault by Faheem Ashraf, who smashed 29 runs off just 11 balls to guide his side home. The victory earned Pakistan their first two crucial points in the tournament.
Pakistan’s chase started aggressively, with Saim Ayub and captain Salman Agha providing a brisk opening. Sahibzada Farhan then took charge, striking an impressive 47 to push Pakistan ahead in the powerplay. However, a middle-order collapse saw Pakistan slip from 98/2 to 114/7, leaving them needing 33 runs from the final three overs.
Under immense pressure, Faheem Ashraf turned the game on its head by hammering 24 runs in the 19th over, virtually sealing the match before calmly finishing the chase.
Earlier, the Netherlands posted a challenging total but failed to capitalize on a strong platform. They were cruising at 127/4 before losing their final six wickets for just 20 runs. Bas de Leede and skipper Scott Edwards anchored the innings, while Pakistan’s spinners and Mirza’s three-wicket haul restricted the late surge.
Dutch bowlers staged a spirited comeback, with Paul van Meekeren’s double-wicket maiden reigniting hopes, but Logan van Beek’s expensive 19th over proved decisive.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha praised his team’s resilience, particularly the spinners, but admitted the batting unit must improve its finishing. Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards rued missed opportunities and highlighted the lack of partnerships at crucial stages.
Faheem Ashraf was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock, crediting calm execution and experience in pressure situations for the successful chase.
The thrilling encounter set the tone for an action-packed ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, promising more excitement in the matches to come.