In a heart-pounding start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan narrowly defeated the Netherlands by three wickets in the tournament’s opening match at the Sinhalese Sports Club on February 7, 2026.
What seemed like a straightforward chase turned into a tense thriller, with all-rounder Faheem Ashraf emerging as the hero, smashing an unbeaten 29 off just 11 balls to drag his team over the line with three balls to spare.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Pakistan restricted the Netherlands to 147 all out in 19.5 overs. Key contributions came from Dutch captain Scott Edwards with 37 runs and Bas de Leede with 30, but Pakistan’s bowlers kept the pressure on. Debutant pacer Mirza took 3-24, while Saim Ayub (2-7), Abrar Ahmed (2-23), and Mohammad Nawaz (2-38) chipped in effectively to prevent a higher total. The Dutch innings had promised more at the halfway mark, with a run rate above eight, but wickets in clusters derailed their momentum.
Chasing 148, Pakistan appeared in control early on, reaching 98/2 thanks to opener Sahibzada Farhan’s aggressive 47 and steady support from captain Salman Ali Agha and Babar Azam. However, a dramatic collapse saw them slump to 115/7, losing five wickets between the 12th and 19th overs as Dutch bowlers Paul van Meekeren (2-20) and Aryan Dutt (2-33) struck crucial blows. With 33 runs needed off the last two overs, the game hung in the balance.
Enter Faheem Ashraf. Surviving a dropped catch by Max O’Dowd in the penultimate over, Ashraf unleashed a barrage, smashing 24 runs off that over alone – including two sixes and two fours – to swing the momentum decisively. He sealed the victory with a lofted cover drive for four in the final over, finishing on 148/7 in 19.3 overs. “Pakistan didn’t win, we lost the game,” lamented Dutch pacer van Meekeren post-match, highlighting the fine margins.
This victory positions Pakistan strongly in Group A of the expanded 20-team tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
For the Netherlands, the performance underscores the growing competitiveness of associate nations in T20 cricket, nearly pulling off a massive upset against a full-member side. As the tournament progresses, Pakistan will look to build on this escape, while the Netherlands aim to bounce back in their next fixture.
