Pakistan Survive Major Scare as Faheem Ashraf Delivers Dramatic Rescue Act
With the shadow of a potential boycott against India looming on February 15, Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign nearly ended before it truly began. In a tense tournament opener at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, the Pakistani side stared defeat in the face against the Netherlands before all-rounder Faheem Ashraf produced a match-winning performance of sheer brilliance.
A Chase That Nearly Went Horribly Wrong
Chasing a modest target of 148 runs, Pakistan appeared comfortably placed at 98 for 2 after 11 overs, requiring just 50 more runs from 54 deliveries. The game, however, took a dramatic turn when Dutch paceman Paul van Meekeren struck twice in quick succession. First, he dismissed the well-set Sahibzada Farhan for a brisk 47 off 31 balls, caught by Roelof van der Merwe. Then, in the same over, he removed Usman Khan for a golden duck.
The collapse accelerated when captain Babar Azam fell in the 13th over, caught by Michael Klein at long-off off van der Merwe's bowling. What followed was a procession of wickets as Pakistan's middle and lower-middle order crumbled under pressure. Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan were dismissed off consecutive deliveries, leaving the team reeling at 114 for 7 in the 16.1 overs.
The Moment of Maximum Pressure
With 34 runs needed from just 23 balls, Pakistan managed only 5 runs from the next 11 deliveries. The equation became even more daunting: 29 required from the final 12 balls as Logan van Beek prepared to bowl the 19th over. The Netherlands could almost taste victory, while Pakistan faced the prospect of a humiliating defeat to an associate nation.
Then came Faheem Ashraf's moment of glory.
The all-rounder launched a breathtaking assault on van Beek's bowling, smashing 24 runs in that decisive over. He struck three massive sixes and benefited from a crucial dropped catch by Max O'Dowd in the deep. That single over completely shifted the momentum, transforming what seemed like an impossible chase into a manageable task.
A Nerve-Wracking Finish
After that explosive over, Ashraf calmly finished the chase with a lofted cover drive for the winning runs, securing victory with three balls to spare. Just nine deliveries earlier, the target had appeared completely out of reach. Ashraf remained unbeaten on a blistering 29 off just 11 balls, his innings proving the difference between victory and what would have been a catastrophic defeat.
Paul van Meekeren and Roelof van der Merwe had bowled superbly for the Netherlands, sharing five wickets between them and putting their team in a commanding position. However, van Beek's expensive 19th over proved decisive as Ashraf capitalized on any slight error in length.
Questions Remain Despite Victory
While Pakistan managed to scrape past the Netherlands by three wickets, serious questions about their batting lineup remain unanswered. The middle-order collapse exposed familiar frailties that nearly cost them the match. These concerns were temporarily set aside in the euphoria of victory, but they loom large as Pakistan prepares for more challenging encounters ahead.
The narrow escape serves as a stark warning for Salman Ali Agha's side, particularly with crucial matches against associate nations remaining before the potentially boycotted clash against India. Pakistan cannot afford similar batting collapses if they hope to progress deep into the T20 World Cup 2026 tournament.
