What a start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026! On a balmy Saturday night at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Pakistan survived a major scare from a spirited Netherlands side, clinching a nerve-jangling three-wicket win with just three balls to spare. The Group A opener had all the drama, tension, and late heroics that cricket fans could ask for—and at its heart was Faheem Ashraf, whose unbeaten 29 off 11 balls turned the tide and rescued Pakistan from the jaws of an upset.
Pakistan’s campaign in this year’s T20 World Cup has been under the microscope, not least because of their controversial decision to boycott the upcoming group fixture against archrivals India. That move has left the Men in Green with little margin for error as they chase a Super 8 berth. Against the Netherlands, that pressure was palpable, and for much of the match, it looked like the Dutch might just pull off one of the competition’s great shocks.
Winning the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opted to bowl first, hoping his bowlers would set the tone. The Netherlands, undaunted, made a promising start. Michael Levitt, aggressive as ever, raced to 24 off 15 balls, while Max O’Dowd tried to anchor from the other end. Salman Mirza got the breakthrough in the fourth over, dismissing O’Dowd for just five, with Usman Khan holding on to a sharp catch.
Pakistan’s fielding and bowling were sharp in the powerplay, and soon Mohammad Nawaz removed Levitt, thanks in part to a smart relay from Babar Azam near the boundary. The Dutch middle order, however, showed real grit. Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann kept the scoreboard ticking, and captain Scott Edwards led from the front with a composed 37 off just 20 balls. By the 13th over, the Netherlands had motored past 100 and looked set for a big finish.
But cricket can be a cruel game. The Dutch innings unraveled spectacularly in the final overs, losing their last six wickets for just 20 runs. Saim Ayub’s spin proved decisive in the 17th over, and Salman Mirza wrapped things up with two wickets in the 20th, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 24. Abrar Ahmed and Nawaz chipped in with two wickets each, as the Netherlands were bowled out for 147 in 19.5 overs—a total that looked competitive but not insurmountable.
Pakistan’s chase began brightly. Saim Ayub, opening the batting, set the tone with a brisk 24 off 13 balls, peppering the boundary with four fours and a six before Aryan Dutt struck to remove him. Sahibzada Farhan, however, was in sublime touch. Combining with Agha, Farhan kept the run rate under control, and by the fifth over, Pakistan were 53 for two.
Dutt struck again, dismissing Agha for 12, and the pressure began to build. Farhan, though, remained unflustered, working his way to a stylish 47 off 31 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes. When Roelof van der Merwe sent Farhan back, Pakistan were 98 for three, and the Dutch sensed an opening. Usman Khan departed for a duck, and Babar Azam’s scratchy 15 off 18 balls did little to steady the ship. The Men in Green lurched from 98-2 to 114-7, with wickets tumbling and the required run rate climbing ominously.
It was at this point that the match tilted dramatically. Faheem Ashraf, coming in with the game on the line, played with the kind of freedom and power that defines T20 cricket. Partnering with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Ashraf unleashed a flurry of boundaries, turning the contest on its head. The pivotal moment came in the 19th over, bowled by Logan van Beek. Ashraf hammered three sixes and a four, scoring 22 runs off the over. The Dutch had their chance to seal victory—Max O’Dowd dropped a tough catch at long-off when Ashraf was on just seven runs, and the all-rounder made them pay dearly.
With five runs needed from the final over, Ashraf coolly got himself on strike and thrashed the winning boundary through cover, sparking wild celebrations in the Pakistan camp. He finished unbeaten on 29, having faced just 11 balls, and was deservedly named player of the match. Captain Salman Ali Agha was quick to acknowledge the pressure and Ashraf’s heroics, saying, “They managed to pull wickets down and the pressure came in. Credit to Faheem, the way he batted.”
The Dutch, for their part, were left ruing missed opportunities but could hold their heads high. Captain Scott Edwards summed up the mood: “Credit to the boys for fighting. You know, sometimes cricket can be a cruel game.” Their bowlers, especially Aryan Dutt and van der Merwe, kept things tight and nearly pulled off a famous win. The Netherlands’ collapse at the death, losing six wickets for 20 runs, ultimately proved decisive, but their performance will give them confidence for the rest of the tournament.
Pakistan’s win was celebrated back home, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulating the nation and praising the team’s composure. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi struck a lighter note, dedicating the victory to twin babies featured in a social media post and sending warm wishes to both teams. The cricket fraternity also joined in the applause—former stars Azhar Mahmood, Yasir Hameed, Saeed Ajmal, Rumman Raees, and Sarfaraz Ahmed all took to social media to laud Faheem Ashraf’s match-turning cameo. Fans echoed the sentiment, with one noting, “Embarrassment averted. Thank you, Faheem Ashraf.”
With this tense win, Pakistan have kept their Super 8 hopes alive but know there is no room for complacency. The decision to boycott the India match means every remaining group fixture is crucial. For the Netherlands, this was a case of so near, yet so far—but they have shown they can compete with the best on the world stage.
As the dust settles in Colombo, the 2026 T20 World Cup is already living up to its billing. Pakistan’s late escape, powered by Faheem Ashraf’s fireworks, has set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling tournament. The Men in Green march on, but they’ve been given a wake-up call they won’t soon forget.