Pakistan vs Netherlands ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Who will win the match?

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will see Pakistan open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.

Pakistan enter the tournament full of confidence after a dominant clean sweep against Australia in their three-match T20I series. However, they must remain cautious, as a loss could impact their Super Eight chances. Notably, their decision to skip the Group A clash against India could hurt their net run rate (NRR) and affect their standing in the points table.

Netherlands have struggled recently, highlighted by a series loss to Bangladesh. They will be keen to kickstart their campaign with a win against Pakistan.

PAK vs NED Match details

PAK vs NED head-to-head records in T20I

Pakistan hold the upper hand in their head-to-head record against the Netherlands, having defeated them in both previous meetings.

Pitch Report

The pitch in Colombo is good for batters and is known for lack of assistance for spinners. While pacers benefit early, the pitch flattens fast, offering little for spinners. First innings scores have generally ranged from 160-170 runs, though this has dipped slightly in recent times.

PAK vs NED: Probable Best Performers

Key batter to watch out for: Babar Azam

Babar Azam has consistently excelled against the world’s top bowling attacks. Facing a strong bowling unit on Saturday afternoon, he’ll encounter tough conditions, but the seasoned batter knows how to deliver. With extensive experience in subcontinent conditions and the ability to handle both pace and spin, he’s poised for another standout performance.

Key bowler to watch out for: Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous in the world. He will be tasked to take early wickets against the aggressive batting unit of Scott Edwards. With his lightning pace and ability to swing the ball in both ways, Afridi can put the rivals under pressure.

PAK vs NED Match Prediction ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan are likely to have the upper hand going into the match against the Netherlands, given their experience and form. With a strong batting line-up and potent bowling attack, Pakistan should dominate the game, but the Netherlands could pose a challenge if they can execute their game plan effectively. The key for the Netherlands will be to counter Pakistan’s pace attack.

PAK vs NED: Probable XIs

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (WK), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Abrar Ahmed

Netherlands: Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Colin Ackermann, Noah Croes, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Bas de Leede, Roelof van der Merwe, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen