A thrilling T20 World Cup opener had fans on the edge of their seats as Pakistan narrowly escaped an upset against the Netherlands. With just three balls remaining, Faheem Ashraf's heroics secured a tense three-wicket victory for Pakistan.
The match, played on February 7, 2026, saw the Dutch side put up a brave fight, but ultimately, it was Faheem's quickfire 29 not out off 11 deliveries that proved decisive.
A Close Call for Pakistan
Pakistan's decision to boycott their group match against India left them with a slim chance of qualifying for the Super 8 stage. This meant every group match against the smaller teams became a must-win scenario.
And win they did, but not without a few heart-stopping moments. Pakistan's batters struggled to chase down a modest target, and a dropped catch by Max O'Dowd off Faheem's bat could have changed the course of the game.
The Dutch, however, had their moments too. After being put into bat, they reached 100 in the 13th over, but a collapse in the death overs saw them lose six wickets for just 20 runs.
The Middle Order's Resistance
Despite losing openers Max O'Dowd and Michael Levitt, the Netherlands' middle order fought back bravely. Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, and captain Scott Edwards all contributed valuable runs, but it was the late-order collapse that proved costly.
Spinner Saim Ayub and bowler Mirza struck crucial blows, restricting the Netherlands to a below-par total.
Pakistan's Batters Struggle
Pakistan's chase was far from smooth sailing. Babar Azam's departure after a slow 15 off 18 balls added to the team's woes. With the score at 119-7 after 18 overs, Faheem's six off Logan van Beek's bowling gave Pakistan a glimmer of hope.
But it was the next ball that changed the game. Faheem's skyed shot should have been an easy catch for O'Dowd at long-off, but the drop allowed Faheem to continue his assault, sealing Pakistan's victory with a boundary.
And this is the part most people miss: the importance of winning every group match, no matter the opponent. Pakistan's decision to boycott the India match put them in a tricky situation, and they knew every win was crucial.
But here's where it gets controversial... Should Pakistan have taken the risk of boycotting the India match? What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
