Dutch pacer Paul van Meekeren said the Netherlands lost to Pakistan because of their own mistakes in the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 7 in Colombo. It was a close game, as Pakistan won in the final over with three balls to spare. Pakistan first restricted the Netherlands to 147 runs.

While chasing, Pakistan were in a strong position early. From the 11th over, the match turned in the Netherlands’ favour as Pakistan slipped from 98/2 to 114/7, losing five wickets for just 16 runs. However, Faheem Ashraf changed the game in the 19th over and helped Salman Ali Agha’s side win the match. Pakistan needed 29 runs off 12 balls when Faheem attacked Logan van Beek.

Speaking after the match, Van Meekeren praised his teammates for their effort. He said the team did not score as many runs as they wanted but showed strong fighting spirit. He added that the never-give-up attitude pleased him and said that catches are very important because catches win matches.

Watch the Video here:

Paul Van Meekeren on Pakistan’s victory. pic.twitter.com/1R0mTwv1ld

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 8, 2026

Van Meekeren Blames the Netherlands’ Own Mistakes

Paul van Meekeren clearly said that the Netherlands lost the match because of their own errors. He said, “I want to be very clear, Pakistan didn’t win the game today; we lost the game against ourselves.” The Dutch pacer added that his team was better on the day, especially with the ball. “We were the better team today, especially in the bowling department, and we should have deserved to win that game,” he said.

Also read -Watch: Star PBKS player gets run out in a 'unique' way during NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup 2026 match

Dropped Catch Was the Turning Point

Explaining the key moment, Van Meekeren pointed to the dropped catch in the final stages. He said, “It’s probably quite clear, the dropped catch in the end.” Talking about the final over, he added, “They needed 29 in that last over, probably the last real recognised batter that’s in. First ball goes for six and you drop the catch, and then after that it’s six-six-four, something like that.”

The Netherlands pacer admitted the defeat was hard to accept. He said, “Everyone who’s got a bit of brains in cricket probably knows that that catch is probably where we lost the game.” Van Meekeren felt his team should have finished the job and added, “We deserved to win that game, and we should have sent Pakistan home after today.” The Netherlands will now travel to India to face Namibia on February 10 in Delhi.

Pakistan turned the easy chase against the Netherlands during the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo with regular wickets as the pressure nearly got the better of the opposition. The Asian side lost five wickets for only 16 runs in five overs as Faheem Ashraf found himself in the middle with Shaheen Afridi. 

Logan van Beek came to the bowl in the penultimate over of the innings as the first ball of the over was smashed with full over the wide mid-wicket region by Faheem Ashraf, who was dropped on the very next delivery. The southpaw swung the willow and got the ball low off the bat, where Max O’Dowd made a mess of the catch.

See Also: Watch: Paul Van Meekeren bowls double-wicket maiden over during PAK vs NED T20 World Cup 2026 clash

The third ball was nailed by the all-rounder over the mid-off region as the ball sailed over the ropes for a maximum. Two balls later, it was another massive six, the third over the over, as the batter stood tall and launched it high and deep into the stands at mid-wicket for a massive 89-meter six.

Faheem Ashraf smashes 24 runs in PAK vs NED T20 WC 2026 

The last delivery of the over was punched across the field, behind the wicket-keeper for a boundary as Pakistan nearly finished the chase with 22 runs off the over. The winning boundary also came from Ashraf, who thumped the ball wide of cover for a winning boundary and remained unbeaten on 29 runs in just 11 balls with two fours and three sixes.

Watch the video here: 

@StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/K0A4GPMtpC

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) February 7, 2026

Earlier in the game, the Netherlands posted a decent score of 147 in 19.5 overs as their captain, Scott Edwards, thumped 37 runs in 29 balls at a strike rate of 127.59, with the help of three boundaries and one six. Bas de Leede got 30 runs in 25 balls.

With the ball, Salman Mirza ended as the peak of the bowling unit with three wickets for 24 runs in 3.5 overs, while all of Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub, and Abrar Ahmed picked up two wickets each.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 148/7 (Sahibzada Farhan 47, Paul van Meekeren 2/20) beat Netherlands 147 (Scott Edwards 37, Salman Mirza 3/24, Saim Ayub 2/7) by 3-wickets.

Pakistan began their T20 World Cup 2026 journey against Netherlands on 7 February in Colombo. The match was played at the Sinhalese Sports Club on a grassy surface. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bowl first. The conditions looked helpful for bowlers early on.

Chasing a modest target, Pakistan started with positive intent but soon turned into a tense battle. Despite a flying start that saw them reach 61/2 in the powerplay, the batting lineup suffered a sudden and shocking collapse. Three wickets fell in just 10 balls, and the score moved from 98/2 to 100/5. This sudden collapse brought the Netherlands back into the game. The focus of attention turned to Pakistan’s middle order as the pursuit grew nervous.

The most important wicket during the collapse was that of Babar Azam. Babar scored 15 runs off 18 balls and was looking to accelerate. He stepped out to take on spinner Roelof van der Merwe. The ball was flighted, full, and outside off, spinning away from him. Babar tried to hit the ball straight down the ground. However, the bat face turned slightly at the point of contact. The shot was mistimed off the toe end of the bat. Kyle Klein ran across from long-off and took a safe catch, leaving Pakistan five wickets down.

Netherlands Show Fight Before Late Collapse

Earlier in the match, the Netherlands showed good intent with the bat. They reached 100/3 by the 13th over and looked on course for a competitive total. Captain Scott Edwards led the innings with 37 off 29 balls. Bas de Leede also played a useful knock of 30.

Watch the video here

Some players are weak against inswing
Some against outswing

Babar Azam?
Weak against playing cricket 🤡🤣🤣 🤣

When he came to bat Pakistan was crusing at 9 RPO when he got out they came down to 6 RPO.

He was drawing a T20 game#PAKvsNED pic.twitter.com/U5tXcC6E2B

— 𝑨𝑻10 (@Loyalsachfan10) February 7, 2026

See Also: Watch: Paul Van Meekeren bowls double-wicket maiden over during PAK vs NED T20 World Cup 2026 clash

However, Pakistan’s bowlers took control in the final overs. Salman Mirza picked up 3/24, while Saim Ayub claimed 2/7. The Netherlands lost their last six wickets for just 20 runs. They were bowled out for 147 in 19.5 overs, setting up an eventful chase in the tournament opener.

There was calmness in Pakistan’s chase of 148 runs during the T20 World Cup 2026 opening clash against the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, before they lost their plot in the middle overs. The Dutch pacer, Paul Van Meekeren, brought them back in the clash with a double-wicket maiden over, including the dismissals of Usman Khan and Sahibzada Farhan. 

On the very first ball of the 12th over, Sahibzada Farhan, on 47 runs in 31 balls with the help of four boundaries and a couple of sixes, looked to pull the short ball from Meekeren But he didn’t get the same elevation and bounced out to the field who sprinted across to grab a fine catch to send the opening batter back into the hut.

See Also: Watch: Michael Levitt smashes Shaheen Afridi for massive six during PAK vs NED T20 World Cup 2026 clash

Two balls later, the Netherlands bowler got the wicket of Usman Khan for a two-ball duck. It was a normal delivery that got an extra bounce as Khan, looking to play it on the rise, got an inside edge onto the stumps and made his way back into the pavilion.

Paul van Meekeren gets double-wicket maiden over in PAK vs NED T20 WC 2026 clash 

Unnaturally, Babar Azam, on 15 runs in 18 balls with the help of one boundary, looked to use his feet and thump a six against Roef Van der Merwe. But he didn’t get the ball from the sweet spot of his bat and was caught by Kyle Klein as they felt the heat of the chase in the 13th over of the innings.

Watch the video here: 

@StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/vKVfvX5rew

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) February 7, 2026

Earlier in the game, the Netherlands posted a decent score of 147 runs in 19.5 overs as their leader, Scott Edwards, was the leading run-getter individually with 37 runs in 29 balls with the help of three boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 127.59.

Their number three batter, Bas de Leede, got 30 runs in 25 balls at a strike rate of 120 with the help of four fours before Saim Ayub gave Pakistan a strong start in the chase with 24 runs in 15 balls. But the Dutch side made the chase hard for their opposition.

Brief Scores: Netherlands 147 (Scott Edwards 37, Salman Mirza 3/24, Saim Ayub 2/7) vs Pakistan 114/5 (Sahibzada Farhan 47, Paul van Meekeren 2/16) 

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 has just started, and the former Pakistan cricketer already started to blame the International Cricket Council (ICC), calling the ICC the Indian Cricket Council even before the first ball of the tournament. 

In the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 opener, Pakistan faced the Netherlands at SSC in Colombo, where Pakistan claimed a thrilling win against the Netherlands, as they chased the 148-run target in 19.3 overs after losing seven wickets, where Faheem Ashraf rescued the team in the final overs.

I have never seen such a grassy wicket like this in my life in Sri Lanka: Saqlain Mushtaq

At toss, Pakistan chose to bowl first after winning the toss. Seeing some grass on the pitch in the tournament opener, former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq lashed out at the ICC. Calling the International Cricket Council the Indian Cricket Council, the former Pakistan off-spinner claimed that he never seen such a grassy wicket in Sri Lanka. The same kind of reaction was from Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, who said it during the toss.

Saqlain said, "ICC (Indian Cricket Council) has definitely kept a 25% advantage here for the Netherlands. I have never seen such a grassy wicket like this in my life in Sri Lanka."

Saqlain Mushtaq:

"ICC (Indian Cricket Council) has definitely kept a 25% advantage here for the Netherlands. I have never seen such a grassy wicket like this in my life in Sri Lanka." pic.twitter.com/Zie9dUZ1VE

— Hassan Abbasian (@HassanAbbasian) February 7, 2026

Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha mentioned at the toss, "First time I've seen this much grass I've seen in SL."

Watch: Saim Ayub’s No-Look shot vs Netherlands in T20 World Cup 2026 clash

Pakistan won ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 opening thriller against the Netherlands

Despite a strong start, the Netherlands lost their last six wickets for only 26 runs, as they were bowled out for 147 runs.

In reply, Pakistan were once dominating at 98/2 in 11 overs. But they were suddenly down to seven wickets for 114 runs in the 17th over. Requiring 29 runs in the last two overs, Faheem Ashraf accumulated 24 runs in the 19th over, including three sixes and one four, while he was dropped at long on in that same over that became the turning point of the match.  

Michael Levitt came up with a different plan against the left-arm Pakistan pacer, Shaheen Afridi, during the opening encounter of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, where the right-handed batter used his feet on the very first ball to time the pacer into the fine leg region for a four. 

In the second over of Shaheen Afridi, Levitt moved into the leg side and muscled the short of a length delivery over the deep mid-wicket region for a fine boundary. Two balls later, he stood tall to dispatch the seamer over deep backward square leg for a thumping pull short for a six, as it put enormous pressure on Afridi.

See Also: Watch: Indian players visit Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple ahead of IND vs USA T20 World Cup 2026 clash

But he was dismissed for 24 runs in 15 balls with the help of three boundaries and one six. He looked to go down the ground against Mohammad Nawaz as Babar Azam and Afridi combined a fine catch at the rope to complete it and sent back the opening batter, which brought new life for the Asian side.

Michael Levitt pulls Shaheen Afridi for 6 in PAK vs NED T20 WC 2026 clash 

The Netherlands made a strong start with the bat inside the powerplay, with 50 runs coming for the loss of two wickets. But they lost the plot in the middle overs and were bundled out for 147 runs. Their captain, Scott Edwards, played a decent knock of 37 runs in 29 balls, scoring three fours and one six.

Watch the video here: 

Woah! That is a biggie! 🔥

Michael Levitt took the attack right onto PAK bowlers as he scored the first MAXIMUM of the T20 World Cup!👌🏻

ICC Men's #T20WorldCup | #PAKvNED | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/GKcXaJHm9F pic.twitter.com/vnCd4s2zbV

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 7, 2026

Meanwhile, Ackerman got 20 runs in 14 balls while Aryan Dutt smashed 13 runs in just eight balls to see his side not being able to play the full quota of 20 overs. Salman Mirza was the peak of the bowler for Pakistan with figures of 3/24 in 3.5 overs.

In reply, Pakistan went off to a good start with Saim Ayub smashing 24 runs in 13 balls with the help of four fours and one six before Aryan Dutt had the last laugh to draw the first blood with the wicket of the southpaw.

Brief Scores: Netherlands 147 (Scott Edwards 37, Salman Mirza 3/24, Saim Ayub 2/7) vs Pakistan 38/1 (Saim Ayub 24, Aryan Dutt 1/14) 

Pakistan will face the Netherlands in the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026. The match will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Pakistan, who finished runners-up in the 2022 edition, are placed in Group A this time.

The Men in Green will look to start their campaign with a win against the Dutch side. However, Pakistan will miss star batter Fakhar Zaman, who is not part of the Playing XI for the opener.

Despite being 35 years old and scoring over 2,300 runs in T20 cricket with 13 half-centuries, Fakhar Zaman’s place in the team has come under pressure. His strike rate of around 130 is seen as slow as Pakistan now want more aggressive batting at the top.

The left-handed batter also struggled in the recent three-match T20 series against Australia, where he scored only 25 runs in total. His form in the 2025–26 ILT20 season was also below par. Playing for the Desert Vipers, he scored 260 runs in 12 matches, with an average of 21.66 and a strike rate of 124.4. He failed to give quick starts, which hurt his chances of making the World Cup XI.

Also read -Former Indian batter names India’s X-factors including Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Why Fakhar Zaman Has Been Dropped

Fakhar Zaman has been left out of the Playing XI due to team combination reasons. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said the team will play only the best combination, even if senior players have to sit out.

Speaking in the press conference before the tournament, Agha said that no player is guaranteed a place. He said if players like Fakhar Zaman or Babar Azam do not fit the team plan, they will not be included. The focus will be on what is best for the team.

Pakistan is planning to give 23-year-old Khawaja Nafay a chance in the opening match. Nafay is likely to replace Fakhar Zaman. He impressed in the last T20 match against Australia and has shown aggressive batting. In his early international games, he has a strike rate of over 174, which matches Pakistan’s need for quick scoring.

Captain’s View on Babar, Bowling Plans and Match Preview

Salman Ali Agha also spoke about Babar Azam’s role in T20 cricket. He said Babar needs to score faster and is working on improving his game. Agha added that Babar is a key player who brings stability to the team. When Babar scores runs, Pakistan usually wins matches.

In the bowling attack, Pakistan are expected to pick Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz. Usman Tariq may miss out despite his unique bowling action. Fast bowler Salman Mirza is likely to play alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi, replacing Naseem Shah for this game.

The Netherlands will be playing their first T20 match in Sri Lanka. They will depend on captain Scott Edwards and in-form batter Michael Levitt. Levitt has been impressive since 2025, scoring 314 runs in 8 matches with a good average and a quick strike rate.

Playing XI of PAK vs NED Match 

Pakistan playing 11: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (C), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (WK), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed

Netherlands playing 11:Michael Levitt, Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (C &WK), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Paul van Meekeren

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: 

Who on earth would have thought there will be some day when we'll see Babar Azam as one of the best fielders in World Cricket?

I wish he does the same hard work in his batting..! 🫠pic.twitter.com/1ExcqFj83E

— Abdullah. (@Abdullahh_56) February 7, 2026

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. 

Pakistan and the Netherlands will get the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 underway when they face each other in Match 1 on Saturday, February 7, at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. Both teams will be eager to start the tournament with a win and set the tone early.

Pakistan come into the World Cup in good form after a confident clean sweep against Australia in a recent three-match T20I series. Under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha, the Men in Green are fully aware of the significance of each group match more so with points and net run rate holding huge importance. It is important to have a good start so they can gain momentum early on in the tournament.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency in T20 cricket in recent times. The Dutch side has not managed a win in their recent 20-over matches, including warm-up games. However, a World Cup opener presents a fresh opportunity, and they will be keen to surprise Pakistan and gain confidence early in the tournament.

PAK vs NED: Head-to-Head in T20Is

• Matches Played: 2
  
• Pakistan Won: 2
  
• Netherlands Won: 0
  
• Tied / No Result: 0

PAK vs NED: Pitch Report

The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo will host a T20I match after a long gap. With renovations having been made and new floodlights put up, conditions are expected to be good. However, both teams will have to check the pitch before finalizing their strategies for the match.

See Also: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: IND vs USA Today Match Prediction – 3rd Match, Who Will Win Today?

PAK vs NED: Predicted Playing XIs

Pakistan (PAK):

Salman Ali Agha (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz

Netherlands (NED):

Scott Edwards (c & wk), Max O'Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Noah Croes, Bas de Leede, Michael Levitt, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen