Pakistan started the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 with a crucial win against Netherlands on the opening day of the tournament (February 7) at the SSC Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka. After the match, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Aga highlighted their bowling performance against the Dutch cricket team. Aga believed that his bowlers did a very good job in the game.
Agha praised his batsmen despite the continuous fall of wickets midway through the second innings while Pakistan was chasing the target of 148 runs. The captain especially mentioned Faheem Ashraf for securing the crucial win.
Pakistan won over Netherlands:
Pakistan were clear favorites to win the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026. The Netherlands cricket team has quality in their squad, but they lack experience at the highest level of cricket.
Your daily dose of cricket!
They could have defeated the Men in Green and started the tournament with the expected results, but they still have to learn how to handle match pressure, especially the pressure of matches like the World Cup.
Netherlands, who came to bat first, scored 147/10 in 19.5 overs. In reply, Pakistan performed well in the second innings. The confident batting of Sahibzada Farhan (47) was leading the team to a quick victory.
As Farhan walked back into the dressing room on the first ball of the 12th over, suddenly the Netherlands got a chance to get back into the contest.
Within a short span, Usman Khan and Babar Azam were also out. Pakistan lost three of its top batsmen in 3 overs and put the team in an unpleasant situation. With three players out, the Netherlands dared to dream of a spectacular victory.
Faheem Ashraf sorted things out in style
When Askha’s run rate was increasing, number eight batsman Faheem Ashraf came into the middle with all guns blazing.
The all-rounder scored unbeaten 29 runs on 11 balls and ensured Pakistan’s victory. Without Ashraf’s fireworks, the result of the match could have been different.
But obviously the credit goes to Faheem, the way he batted; I think he batted brilliantly – Salman Ali Aga
After the match, Salman Ali Aga looked quite confident. He praised his bowlers and Ashraf for the victory. But he didn’t blame any batsman for making the contest complicated, even against a good target. Agha said that the pitch helped the batsmen a lot.
“We have to do it the hard way. But I think when we bowled, I think we held up really well. With 148, I’d take it any day. We batted well in the first 10 overs, but you have five, six bad overs, like if it’s two, three bad overs, you’re pretty much out of the game,” Salman Ali Aga said.
“But obviously credit to Faheem, the way he batted, I think he batted very well. (With the ball) I think we started well and we knew they would work hard. But I think we pulled things off really well. And 147, I think we would have won any game on a pitch like this,” said Salman Ali Aga.
“They have been bowling well (on the bowlers) for the last six months.
And today he has done this also. It’s a complete bowling performance, I can say that. I think the first 10 (overs) were very good. We batted really well. And then they managed to fall wickets. And then at that time the pressure came,” said Salman Ali Aga.
“And I think we need to assimilate better when it comes to these types of games. Beautiful batting conditions. If you add the batting conditions. It’s not easy to start with, but once you get in, it’s a good wicket to bat on. When someone comes in, we have to make sure that person will finish,” Salman Ali Aga concluded.
read more: Sam Ayub suffers world-class humiliation against Netherlands as no-look shot backfires horribly
