Pakistan Vs Netherlands, T20 World Cup 2026: Faheem Ashraf's Late Cameo Helps PAK Beat NED In Thriller

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf emerged as the hero for Pakistan, hammering 29 off 11 balls in a stunning late assault to snatch a dramatic three-wicket win over the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup opener here on Saturday. Chasing 148 for a win, Pakistan were 90 for 2 at the halfway stage but lost wickets in a heap as they were 114 for 7 in 16.1 overs, needing 34 more runs. It looked all but over for Pakistan at that stage but walking in at number 8, Ashraf, who was dropped on 7, had other plans. Needing 29 runs from the last two overs, Ashraf hit three sixes and one four off Logan Van Beek and finished off the match with a four in the final over as Pakistan reached 148 for 7 in 19.3 overs.

Updated on: 7 February 2026 3:44 pm

Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Scott Edwards

Netherlands' captain Scott Edwards, right, congratulates Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi after Pakistan won their T20 World Cup cricket match against Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Sara Nevis

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Salman Ali Agha

Pakistan's captain Salman Ali Agha reacts in the field during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Michael Levitt

Netherlands' Michael Levitt plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Usman Khan

Pakistan's Usman Khan, right, celebrates with teammates after taking the catch to dismiss Netherlands' Max O'Dowd during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Babar Azam

Pakistan's Babar Azam throws the ball back as he jumps across the boundry rope during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pakistan's Babar Azam, right, and teammate Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrate after taking a co-ordinated catch to dismiss Netherlands' Michael Levitt during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Colin Ackermann

Netherlands' Colin Ackermann, left, and batting partner Bas de Leede touch gloves during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Bas de Leede

Netherlands' Bas de Leede plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Abrar Ahmed

Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed, second right, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Netherlands' Colin Ackermann during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands' captain Scott Edwards plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Mohammad Nawaz

Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz, right, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Netherlands' Bas de Leede during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Sahibzada Farhan

Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan takes the catch to dismiss Netherlands' captain Scott Edwards during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Saim Ayub

Pakistan's Saim Ayub, second right, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Netherlands' Zach Lion-Cachet during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, left. celebrates with teammate Babar Azam the wicket of Netherlands' Roelof van der Merwe during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, enter, reacts after bowling a delivery during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Aryan Dutt

Netherlands' Aryan Dutt plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-

Pakistan's players form a huddle at the end of the first half of the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Pakistan's Saim Ayub plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands' Aryan Dutt, second right, celebrates after dismissing Pakistan's Saim Ayub, left, during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan bats during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Paul van Meekeren

Netherlands' Paul van Meekeren, right, celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Usman Khan, left, during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Roelof van der Merwe

Netherlands' Roelof van der Merwe celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Babar Azam, behind, during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz bats during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Pakistan's Usman Khan is bowled out by Netherlands' Paul van Meekeren during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Kyle Klein

Netherlands' Kyle Klein, right, and teammate Aryan Dutt celebrate the wicket of Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands' players celebrate the wicket of Pakistan's Shadab Khan during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Faheem Ashraf

Pakistan's Faheem Ashraf plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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Netherlands vs Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket photos-Logan van Beek

Netherlands' Logan van Beek, center, reacts after getting hit for a six by Pakistan's Faheem Ashraf, left, during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

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