COLOMBO — Pakistan started their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign today with a win, but the “Men in Green” have more questions than answers after a chaotic 3-wicket victory over the Netherlands. While the points table will show a “W,” the performance at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) was a massive warning sign for Salman Ali Agha’s men.
The Bowling Masterclass: Opting to bowl first, Pakistan’s bowling unit initially looked world-class. Salman Mirza led the attack with a clinical 3/24, while spinners Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz squeezed the Dutch middle order. The Netherlands, who were looking dangerous at 50/2 in the powerplay, suffered a catastrophic collapse, losing their last 6 wickets for just 20 runs to finish at 147 all out.+2
The Chase: A Scripted Implosion? What should have been a routine chase turned into a nightmare. Pakistan’s openers, Sahibzada Farhan (47) and Saim Ayub (24), came out firing, racing to 61 in the Powerplay. At 98/2, the match looked over.
Then, the “Pakistan Panic” set in. A middle-order collapse saw them lose 5 wickets for just 16 runs. The Netherlands’ Paul van Meekeren and Aryan Dutt turned the game upside down, leaving Pakistan gasping at 114/7. The Dutch fans were already celebrating a historic upset.
Faheem’s 19th Over Fireworks With 33 runs needed off the last 18 balls and the pressure at a boiling point, Faheem Ashraf proved why he is the ultimate “jailbreak” specialist. In a breathtaking 19th over, Faheem took apart Logan van Beek, smashing 24 runs (including two massive sixes) to suck the life out of the Dutch defense. He finished unbeaten on 29 off just 11 balls*, sealing the game with 3 balls to spare.+2
LNSPORTS UNFILTERED TAKE: Pakistan walked away with the win, but let’s be honest—this was a lucky escape. If Max O’Dowd hadn’t dropped Faheem in the 19th over, Pakistan would be starting this World Cup in total crisis. The middle-order dependency and the sudden loss of momentum are deep-rooted issues that even a refreshing juice at Roots can’t sweeten.
Match Summary:
- Netherlands: 147/10 (19.5 Overs) – Scott Edwards 37, Salman Mirza 3/24.
- Pakistan: 148/7 (19.3 Overs) – Sahibzada Farhan 47, Faheem Ashraf 29*.
- Result: Pakistan won by 3 wickets.
- Player of the Match: Faheem Ashraf.
Stay tuned to LNSPORTS for more high-voltage updates, live from our studio at Roots, Havelock City Mall.