Pakistan kicked off their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a tense three-wicket win over the Netherlands in the tournament curtain-raiser at Colombo, surviving a spirited challenge from the Dutch side in a match that went down to the final overs.
Batting first, the Netherlands put up a competitive 147 all out in 19.5 overs. Captain Scott Edwards anchored the innings with a fighting 37, while Bas de Leede contributed a crucial 30, helping the Dutch side recover from early setbacks. Pakistan’s bowling attack kept things tight, with Salman Mirza emerging as the standout performer, picking up three wickets and applying pressure through key phases of the innings.
Chasing 148, Pakistan endured a nervy run chase. Sahibzada Farhan played a vital role at the top, scoring a composed 47 to provide stability after early wickets threatened to derail the chase. However, disciplined bowling from the Netherlands kept Pakistan under pressure, turning what looked like a manageable target into a tricky pursuit.
The match swung decisively in the final overs thanks to Faheem Ashraf’s explosive cameo. Coming in with the required rate climbing, Faheem smashed an unbeaten 29 off just 11 balls, displaying power and composure under pressure to steer Pakistan home at 148/7 in 19.3 overs.
While Pakistan secured two crucial points, the narrow margin of victory highlighted areas for improvement. The Netherlands, despite the loss, once again proved their ability to challenge top teams on the global stage with a fearless and disciplined performance.
