Colombo - In the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan faces the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo on February 7th. Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan will be aiming for a strong start in Group A. However, the match might be affected by rain, with a forecast of over 60% chance of rainfall during the second innings.
Pakistan enters the tournament following a 3-0 series victory against Australia, showcasing their T20 form. Captain Salman Ali Agha has emphasized the importance of playing positive cricket and not fearing the results. He also addressed the controversy surrounding off-spinner Usman Tariq's bowling action, asserting its fairness and deeming Tariq the team's "X factor".
Pakistan's likely playing XI includes a solid batting lineup of Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, and Salman Agha, with Khawaja Nafay as the wicketkeeper-batter. Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz are expected to contribute as all-rounders, while the pace attack will likely consist of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Faheem Ashraf. Abrar Ahmed is expected to lead the spin department. Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed are players to watch out for in the Pakistan side.
The Netherlands, captained by Scott Edwards, will look to start strong as well. Their probable playing XI includes Michael Levitt and Max O'Dowd opening, followed by Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, and Scott Edwards in the middle order. The bowling attack is expected to feature Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, and Paul van Meekeren. The Netherlands secured their spot in the World Cup through the European Qualifiers. They held a pre-tournament training camp in Gujarat, India, to acclimatize to the subcontinent conditions.
Historically, Pakistan has dominated the head-to-head record against the Netherlands in T20Is, winning both encounters, which occurred in past World Cups. In all formats, Pakistan has a perfect record against the Netherlands.
The pitch at the SSC in Colombo is known to favor spin bowlers. The average first innings score is 163, while the average second innings score is 152. The toss could be crucial, with most captains potentially preferring to bat first to capitalize on the fresh pitch.
Despite the weather concerns, both teams will be eager to set a positive tone for their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, aims to leverage their recent form and quality spin attack, while the Netherlands seeks to pull off an upset and replicate their past successes against major cricketing nations.