Pakistan begin their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a tricky opener against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7, and while it may look like a straightforward contest on paper, early tournament nerves and Sri Lankan conditions could make this clash more interesting than expected. With both teams keen to start strong, the first game of the day promises competitive cricket rather than a warm-up stroll.
The Group-stage encounter will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club, with the match scheduled to start at 11:00 AM IST.
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Match Details
Fixture: Pakistan vs Netherlands, Match 1
Date: Saturday, February 7
Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
Time: 11:00 AM IST
Pitch Report: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
Colombo traditionally offers one of the better batting surfaces in Sri Lanka.
The track here is flat with even bounce, making stroke play easier once batters settle in. The outfield is quick, so boundaries come fast. Pacers might get some movement early on with the new ball, especially in the morning, but it usually turns into a batting-friendly surface as the game progresses.
Spinners haven’t enjoyed much help at this venue in recent matches. First-innings scores in the 160–170 range are considered competitive.
Weather Forecast
It’s going to be warm and humid.
Daytime temperatures are expected to hover around 33°C before dipping slightly as the match goes on. There is a small chance of passing showers, but forecasts suggest rain interruptions are unlikely to affect the full game.
Squads at a Glance
Pakistan Squad
Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan, Sahibzada Farhan and others.
Netherlands Squad
Scott Edwards (c), Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Logan van Beek, Paul van Meekeren, Roelof van der Merwe, Colin Ackermann, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein and others.
Probable Playing XIs
Pakistan
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (C), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf/Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed
Netherlands
Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (C/wk), Bas de Leede, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Kyle Klein, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren, Roelof van der Merwe/Noah Croes
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Key Battles to Watch
Salman Agha vs Roelof van der Merwe
Pakistan’s skipper has been solid in the middle order. Van der Merwe’s left-arm spin and experience could test him on a slowing surface.
Saim Ayub vs Paul van Meekeren
Ayub likes to attack in the powerplay. Van Meekeren with the new ball will aim to strike early and break Pakistan’s momentum.
Max O’Dowd vs Shaheen Afridi
A classic contest. Afridi’s swing up front against O’Dowd’s aggressive starts could shape the Dutch innings.
Scott Edwards vs Abrar Ahmed
The Netherlands captain anchors the middle order. Abrar’s variations will be crucial to contain him.
Key Players
Pakistan: Salman Agha, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi
Netherlands: Scott Edwards, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Logan van Beek, Paul van Meekeren
Head-to-Head Record
Pakistan have dominated this fixture historically.
Both teams have met twice in T20Is, including World Cup games, and Pakistan have won both matches comfortably. Their last meeting came in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan secured a six-wicket victory.
Overall Record:
Matches: 2
Pakistan Won: 2
Netherlands Won: 0
Live Streaming & Telecast Details
TV Broadcast (India): Star Sports Network
Online Streaming: JioHotstar app and website (subscription required)
What to Expect
Pakistan will see this as a must-win start, especially after their early exit in the previous edition. With a balanced bowling attack and experienced batters, they start favourites.
But the Netherlands aren’t pushovers anymore. They’ve upset bigger teams in recent ICC events and carry enough firepower to make Pakistan work hard.
If Pakistan handle the new ball well and their top order fires, it should be their game. But in T20 cricket, one good spell or quick cameo can flip everything. That’s what makes this opener worth watching.
