Watch: Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi’s combined catch dismisses Michael Levitt in PAK vs NED T20 WC 2026

A look at the how Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi's team-work grab a speculator catch at the boundary rope to dismiss opener Michael Leviitt during the Pak vs NED opening clah of T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo.

Subhradeep Choudhury
Subhradeep Choudhury

3 mins read
Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi’s combined catch dismisses Michael Levitt
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Pakistan isn’t known for its sensational catching and fielding performance in the field, but the two veterans, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, provided a great team catch during the T20 World Cup 2026 opener between Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, as Babar looked fully pumped up after the catch.

On the second delivery of the fifth over of the innings, Michael Levitt went down the ground against the left-arm spin of Mohammad Nawaz as the ball dipped near the boundary rope, where Babar Azam rushed in to grab the catch, and as he was going past the rope, he threw the ball in the air, where Afridi came in.

See Also: Jasprit Bumrah to miss IND vs USA T20 World Cup 2026 match? Replacement revealed

The pacer held his nerve and completed the simple catch. The umpire checked it once and confirmed that Babar was in the air by the time the catch was completed, which saw the Pakistan side getting the second wicket of the innings, as they gave a roar.

Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi grab spectacular catch in T20 WC 2026 

Michael Leviitt went back to the dressing room, being dismissed on 24 runs in 15 balls at a strike rate of 160, with the help of three boundaries and one six as he danced down the track on the very first ball of the innings and guided Afridi’s in-swinging delivery in the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Watch the video here: 

The Netherlands have been quite aggressive for the entire innings as Levitt also pulled the short ball from Afridi for a fine six as the left-arm pacer conceded 23 runs in his two overs without any success to see the Dutch side making their way to 50/2 at the end of the powerplay. Ackerman also started with aggression.

It was a shocking decision, though, to see the Pakistan side omitting Naseem Shah and going with Salman Mirza, who ended with 1/21 in his first three overs of the innings at an economy rate of only seven. Pakistan are unbeaten in both T20 WC clashes against this particular opposition.  

Brief Scores: Pakistan 65/2 (Michael Levitt 24, Mohammad Nawaz 1/5) vs Netherlands. 

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Massive cricket lover and follower of world cricket since mid 2000s. Like to frame the game through stats and numbers. Bit old-school cricket lover, who always get encouraged by Test cricket. Questions few complex rules which baffle the new viewers of the game. Have been working as a cricket writer for more than 5 years.
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