PCB chief dedicates Pakistan's maiden T20 World Cup win to Faheem Ashraf's twin babies
Cricket
Faheem Ashraf stars with an explosive 29 runs off 11 balls, leading Pakistan to a thrilling T20 World Cup win over Netherlands.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan’s dramatic three-wicket victory over the Netherlands in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has become a heartwarming story off the field as PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dedicates the win to Faheem Ashraf’s newborn twin babies.
Sharing their photos on X (formerly Twitter), Naqvi praised the Netherlands for their competitive performance and wished the twins – Hassan and Hussain – a healthy and happy life, writing: “Well played, Netherlands! Today’s game is dedicated to these adorable twin babies!”
Well played, Netherlands! Today's game is dedicated to these adorable twin babies! Wishing them a healthy and happy life. pic.twitter.com/gOOlYduPRU
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) February 7, 2026
Faheem’s heroics
The match at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground saw Pakistan chasing 148, but a middle-order collapse threatened to hand the Netherlands victory. The Green Shirts fell from 98-2 in 11 overs to 114-7, needing 29 runs from the last two overs.
Batting at No. 8, Faheem Ashraf rose brilliantly, scoring an unbeaten 29 off 11 balls. He smashed three sixes and a four in the penultimate over against Logan van Beek, sealing Pakistan’s win with a boundary with three balls to spare. His explosive cameo, including 22 runs in the second-last over, kept Pakistan’s hopes alive and produced one of the most thrilling finishes of the tournament.
Challenging chase
Earlier contributions from opener Saim Ayub, who scored 24 off 13 balls, and a brisk partnership between skipper Salman Ali Agha and Sahibzada Farhan, helped Pakistan maintain a strong run rate. However, senior batsmen Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shadab Khan could not convert starts into big scores, heightening the tension in the chase.
Pakistan edge Netherlands in nail-biting thriller to start T20 World Cup with victory
Faheem’s late heroics ultimately turned the game, ensuring Pakistan reached the target with three deliveries to spare, thrilling fans and setting the tone for the tournament.
Bowling brilliance
Pakistan’s bowlers set the stage by restricting the Netherlands to 147 in 19.5 overs. Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd gave the Dutch side a brisk start but were checked by tight bowling. Salman Mirza led the attack with 3 wickets for 24 runs, while Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed claimed two wickets each. Shaheen Afridi and Saim Ayub also contributed with key dismissals, curbing the Dutch scoring after a promising start.
