Pakistan Survives Scare in Tense T20 World Cup Opener Against Netherlands
Pakistan commenced their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a nail-biting victory, edging past the Netherlands by a narrow margin in a high-pressure Group A encounter in Colombo on Saturday. While the scoreboard reflected a win, the performance was far from convincing, exposing significant vulnerabilities in the batting lineup that drew immediate and harsh criticism from former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali.
Disciplined Bowling Sets Up Modest Target
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Pakistan delivered a controlled and disciplined bowling performance to restrict the Netherlands to a total of 147 runs. The standout performer was Salman Mirza, who spearheaded the attack by claiming three crucial wickets, effectively stifling the Dutch batters and preventing them from building any substantial momentum throughout their innings.
Batting Collapse Turns Victory into a Nervous Affair
Chasing a seemingly manageable target, Pakistan began aggressively with Sahibzada Farhan providing a solid foundation, scoring a brisk 47 runs off just 31 deliveries. However, the innings unraveled dramatically as the Netherlands fought back with timely wickets, exposing the fragility of Pakistan's middle order. The situation grew increasingly tense, with Pakistan requiring 29 runs from the final two overs and only three wickets remaining.
The match's pivotal moment arrived in the 19th over when Faheem Ashraf was granted a reprieve after Max O’Dowd dropped a critical catch. Ashraf capitalized on this opportunity emphatically, blasting 24 runs in that over to shift the momentum decisively in Pakistan's favor. He then guided the team to victory with three balls to spare, averting what could have been a humiliating defeat.
Basit Ali's Scathing Critique of Batting Failures
Despite the win, the batting collapse did not escape scrutiny. Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali launched a vehement assessment of the team's performance, expressing deep concern over both technical flaws and mental fragility.
"Pakistan bach gaya bhai! (Pakistan just about survived). When Shaheen Shah Afridi is called in to bat, you can imagine what Pakistan batting did in that game. Bad batsmanship by the middle order, especially Babar Azam, Nawaz and Shadab Khan. These are experienced players. They have played not just in leagues across the world, but also in the Pakistan Super League. Today, they did not become heroes for Pakistan, they ended up being zeroes," Basit Ali stated during an appearance on Game Plan.
He further questioned the lack of match-winners in the current squad, highlighting broader issues within the team's composition. "Who is a match changer in the Pakistan team? What are you going to say to a country's fans that get happy when a wicket falls just because it means that Babar Azam will come to bat. But then Babar comes and goes. Today's star for Pakistan was Faheem Ashraf, who came in at No 8. Baaki batsman chanafali bech rahe the kya? (Were the rest of the batters selling peanuts?)" he added, underscoring his frustration with the top-order batters.
Looking Ahead: Crucial Clash Against the USA
Pakistan now shifts focus to their next Group A match against the United States, scheduled for Tuesday in Colombo. The team is acutely aware that substantial improvements in batting consistency and resilience are imperative as the tournament advances. This narrow victory serves as a stark reminder that relying on lower-order heroics is unsustainable against stronger opponents in the competition.
The early stages of the T20 World Cup 2026 have already highlighted the intense pressure and high stakes involved, with Pakistan's opening performance raising more questions than answers about their championship aspirations.
