Faheem Ashraf's Prayers Answered in Dramatic Pakistan Victory Over Netherlands
In a heart-stopping opening match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo, Pakistan narrowly escaped a shocking defeat to the Netherlands, clinching a 3-wicket win with just three balls to spare. The hero of the hour, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, later revealed that it wasn't just his tongue praying during a critical moment—every part of his body was beseeching for a miracle.
Collapse Turns Favourites into Underdogs
Pakistan appeared to be cruising comfortably during most of their run-chase, needing 148 for victory. However, a bizarre batting collapse saw them slip from a commanding position of 98/2 to a precarious 114/7. Dot balls accumulated rapidly, wickets tumbled in quick succession, and the Dutch team suddenly found themselves as favourites, poised on the brink of another famous World Cup upset against an Asian giant.
The tension peaked when, with 23 runs required off just 11 deliveries, Faheem Ashraf mishit a low full toss high into the Colombo sky. Not only was the ball airborne, but Pakistan's hopes of starting their World Cup campaign with a win hung in the balance. Netherlands fielder Max O'Dowd had a golden opportunity to seal the game with what seemed an easily grabbable skier, but under immense pressure, he couldn't hold on to the catch.
Ashraf's Redemption and Match-Winning Blitz
Capitalizing on this lifeline, Ashraf, who had already smashed a six off the first ball of Logan van Beek's over, managed to scramble two runs off that dropped chance. He then unleashed a ferocious assault, hammering two more towering sixes and adding a streaky four to his tally. His blistering 11-ball 29 not out proved decisive, swinging the match emphatically back in Pakistan's favour after their middle and lower-middle order had nearly engineered a defeat from the jaws of victory.
Reflecting on that pivotal moment in a post-match press conference, Ashraf chuckled as he recounted the intensity. "The feeling in those moments—I just said this outside before coming here—at that time, it wasn't only my tongue that was praying, but every part of my body was praying for that catch to be dropped," he admitted. This candid revelation highlighted the immense pressure and relief experienced by the Pakistani camp.
Team Belief and Post-Match Reflections
Ashraf emphasized that despite the collapse, he and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who remained unbeaten at the crease, never lost faith. They believed that one good over was all it would take to secure the win. "After hitting the winning runs, and that too while representing Pakistan, you feel a sense of peace," Ashraf shared. "You feel that the team was in such a bad situation, but you still won. The most peaceful feeling is that you have won the first match of the World Cup and you scored the winning runs. There is nothing more satisfying than that."
Addressing the team's batting woes, Ashraf acknowledged the unpredictability of cricket. "As for the collapse, in cricket there are ups and downs. Sometimes your top order doesn't score, sometimes your middle order doesn't score, and sometimes your lower order doesn't score. It is very rare that all eleven players perform in a match. Not everyone performs in every game. Those who didn't perform today, God willing, will perform in the next match."
However, he conceded that Pakistan should not have found themselves in such a dire predicament. "I think because we lost back-to-back wickets, it became a little difficult for us. When wickets fall in quick succession, especially at that stage, you need a partnership. We lacked a partnership there. If we had even a 15–20 run partnership at that time, the match wouldn't have come to such a situation."
This thrilling encounter sets the stage for Pakistan's World Cup journey, serving as a stark reminder of the fine margins in T20 cricket and the dramatic twists that define the sport's most prestigious tournaments.
