Colombo, Feb 07 (ABC): Pakistan opened their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a tense three-wicket victory over the Netherlands, riding on an explosive late cameo from Faheem Ashraf at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground on Saturday.
Chasing a modest target of 148, Pakistan appeared in control early but suffered a dramatic middle-order collapse that pushed the contest into the final overs. With 29 runs required from the last two overs, Faheem Ashraf produced a decisive counterattack to steer the side home with three deliveries to spare.
Batting at No. 8, Faheem struck 29 not out off just 11 balls, including three sixes and a four. He collected 22 runs in the penultimate over off Logan van Beek and then finished the game with a boundary, ensuring a winning start for the Green Shirts.
Early momentum, sudden collapse
Pakistan’s chase began briskly as opener Saim Ayub scored 24 off 13 balls with four boundaries and a six. His aggressive start helped Pakistan reach 27-1 inside three overs before Aryan Dutt claimed his wicket.
Captain Salman Ali Agha and Sahibzada Farhan kept the scoring rate high. Pakistan crossed 50 inside five overs, but Agha departed for 12 soon after. Farhan then combined with Babar Azam to consolidate the innings.
Farhan played fluently for 47 off 29 deliveries, while Babar anchored the chase. At 98-2 in 11 overs, Pakistan looked comfortable with two set batters at the crease.
However, the Netherlands staged a strong comeback.
Paul van Meekeren triggered the collapse with a double-wicket maiden, removing Farhan and Usman Khan. Roelof van der Merwe then dismissed Babar for 15. Pakistan slipped from 98-2 to 114-7, losing five wickets in quick succession.
Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan also fell cheaply, leaving the lower order with a stiff task before Faheem’s late surge changed the momentum.
Spinners restrict Netherlands to 147
Earlier, Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly the spinners, played a key role in restricting the Netherlands to 147 all out in 19.5 overs after the Dutch side elected to bat first.
The Netherlands started positively, with Michael Levitt striking a boundary off the first ball. The openers added 28 runs in three overs before Salman Mirza removed Max O’Dowd.
Levitt threatened to accelerate but was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz following sharp fielding work involving Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi near the boundary.
Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann rebuilt the innings and carried the total past 50 in the powerplay. Abrar Ahmed broke the stand by removing Ackermann for 20.
The Dutch reached 100 in the 13th over, but Pakistan’s spinners tightened control. Nawaz dismissed de Leede for 30, while Abrar sent back captain Scott Edwards for 37.
Saim Ayub chipped in with two quick wickets, including Logan van Beek for a first-ball duck, as the Netherlands lost momentum in the closing overs.
Shaheen Afridi and Salman Mirza cleaned up the tail to bowl the Netherlands out for 147.
Bowling figures
Salman Mirza led the attack with 3-24 in 3.5 overs. Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Saim Ayub claimed two wickets each, while Shaheen Afridi picked up one.
Strong start to campaign
The victory gives Pakistan early momentum in the tournament and highlights the team’s depth in both bowling and lower-order batting. Faheem Ashraf’s finishing role proved decisive in a match that tested Pakistan’s composure under pressure.
With a narrow win secured, Pakistan will look to build consistency and avoid similar collapses as the competition progresses.