Pakistan cricketers Saim Ayub (left) and Khawaja Nafay pose for pictures forward of Pakistan’s opening match in opposition to the Netherlands within the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup on February 7, 2026. — Fb/@PakistanCricketBoard/File23-year-old Khawaja Nafay performed two T20 matches.Free entry introduced for inaugural match at SSC Grounds.Pakistan confronted Netherlands twice, received each matches.
Proper-handed batter Khawaja Nafay is anticipated to open Pakistan’s innings alongside Saim Ayub because the Inexperienced Shirts set to start their ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 journey by taking up the Netherlands tomorrow (Saturday).
The inaugural match of the 20-team match shall be performed at 10:30am (Pakistan Customary Time), by which Pakistan will face the Netherlands in Group “A” on the Sinhalese Sports activities Membership Cricket Floor, Colombo.
In accordance with experiences, for the primary match, the crew administration has determined to play Nafay as an opener alongside Saim Ayub.
The 23-year-old Nafay has performed two T20 matches, and his inclusion within the Taking part in XI signifies that the skilled Fakhar Zaman is more likely to be dropped.
Pakistan’s possible enjoying eleven in opposition to the Netherlands shall be:
Saim Ayub, Khawaja Nafay, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, and Abrar Ahmed.
Followers to get free entry for inaugural match
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) introduced free entry for followers to the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener between Pakistan and the Netherlands
In accordance with the SLC, followers can witness the curtain-raiser of the 20-team match, which they co-host alongside India from February 7 to March 8, “free of charge”, with gates quantity 5 and seven set to be opened for them from 9:30am as per the native time, one and a half hours forward of the graduation of the motion.
The opening match of the match, nonetheless, could also be disrupted as a heavy downpour is anticipated within the night, with a excessive chance of precipitation at 83% and anticipated rainfall of round 4.2 mm.
Pakistan and the Netherlands had confronted one another twice, with the Males in Inexperienced profitable each encounters. The Flying Dutchmen are but to file a victory.
Squads
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq.
Netherlands: Scott Edwards (c), Colin Ackermann, Noah Croes, Bas de Leede, Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen, Kyle Klein, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Max O’Dowd, Logan van Beek, Timm van der Gugten, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren and Saqib Zulfiqar.
