Pakistan Escape Major Embarrassment as Faheem Ashraf Rescues 3-Wicket Win vs Netherlands
Pakistan survives Netherlands scare with Faheem Ashraf's late heroics in T20WC opener.
Pakistan escaped a major upset in their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026, edging past the Netherlands in a tense run chase that triggered widespread reactions on social media. Chasing a modest target of 148, Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble before an inspired late assault ensured a narrow victory and two crucial points to begin their campaign.
The chase appeared straightforward early on, with Saim Ayub providing brisk starts and Sahibzada Farhan anchoring the innings with a fluent 47 off 31 balls. At 98 for 2, Pakistan looked firmly in control, but a sudden collapse changed the complexion of the match. Three wickets fell for just two runs, including the prized scalps of Farhan, Usman Khan, and captain Babar Azam, exposing Pakistan’s familiar inconsistency.
The situation worsened as Netherlands bowlers Paul van Meekeren and Aryan Dutt applied pressure through disciplined spells, reducing Pakistan to 114 for 7 in the 18th over. With 29 runs required off the final 12 deliveries, the contest swung sharply in favor of the European side, raising the prospect of a historic upset.
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Faheem Ashraf, however, produced a decisive counterattack. The all-rounder smashed 24 runs in the penultimate over bowled by Logan van Beek and then sealed the chase with a boundary early in the final over. His unbeaten 29 off 11 balls proved the difference in an otherwise nervy performance from the former champions.
Earlier, the Netherlands had been impressed with the bat after it was sent in. Michael Levitt set the tone with a quick 24, while Scott Edwards and Bas de Leede steadied the innings through the middle overs. At 123 for 4 in the 15th over, the Dutch were well placed for a competitive total.
Pakistan’s spinners turned the game around with a late collapse, as the Netherlands lost their final six wickets for just 20 runs to be bowled out for 147 in 19.5 overs. Despite the win, Pakistan’s struggle against lower-ranked opposition sparked online trolling, with fans questioning the team’s stability as the tournament progresses.
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