Faheem Ashraf’s late cameo saved Pakistan from what could have been a shock defeat, to start their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a high against the Netherlands.
Faheem Ashraf rescues Pakistan in T20 World Cup opener against the Netherlands
After being put into bat first, the Netherlands were going strong at 105-3 in the 13th over with captain Scott Edwards and Bas de Leede having added 40 runs together. But the latter’s dismissal, and then Edwards’ three overs later, prevented the Dutch from posting a commanding total.
From 127-4, they were reduced to 129-7 and then to 139-8 before being bowled out on the penultimate delivery of their innings for 147. Saim Ayub, the top-ranked T20I all-rounder, chipped in with two wickets in an over, while Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed picked up two each, with Salman Mirza taking three.
Pakistan started their chase on the front foot, with Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan adding 27 for the opening wicket in 2.4 overs. Salman Agha maintained the momentum in his brief stay, taking the team past 50 with Farhan, and they were well placed at 61-2 at the end of powerplay, needing just 87 more.
Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam further steadied the ship, adding 45 runs for the third wicket, leaving the side needing just 50 runs off the last 54 deliveries. But the 11th over bowled by Paul van Meekeren was a wicket maiden, in which two wickets fell, and Roelof van der Merwe then removed Babar in the next.
Pakistan could score just 21 runs from overs 12 to 18 while losing five wickets and required 29 runs from the last two, with Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi batting. Faheem slammed the first delivery of the 19th, bowled by Logan van Beek, for a maximum but was dropped by Max O'Dowd on the next.
He proceeded to hit two more sixes and a four in the over to take 24 off it before finishing the proceedings with a four to score 28 off his last eight deliveries. The three-wicket win is all the more crucial for Pakistan, with their government having instructed the men’s team to boycott their group-stage game against India on February 15.
Match 1, Pakistan vs Netherlands
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- Ball by ball Over
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