Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf celebrates his crew’s win in opposition to the Netherlands on the finish of their 2026 ICC Males’s T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match within the Sinhalese Sports activities Membership (SSC) Floor of Colombo on February 7, 2026. — AFP
COLOMBO: Former Pakistan cricketers and followers alike have lauded all-rounder Faheem Ashraf for a late, match-winning cameo that steered Pakistan nationwide cricket crew to victory over the Netherlands nationwide cricket crew of their opening ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixture on the Sinhalese Sports activities Membership Floor on Saturday.
Chasing 148, Pakistan had been made to sweat in a tense run chase earlier than Faheem’s blistering 29 off 11 balls, together with two fours and three sixes, swung the match their means.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan additionally performed a key position, hanging 47 off 31 deliveries with 4 boundaries and two sixes.
Batting first, the Netherlands posted 147 in 19.5 overs, with notable contributions from skipper Scott Edwards, Bas de Leede, Michael Levitt, and Colin Ackermann.
Former all-rounder and coach Azhar Mahmood, alongside Yasir Hameed, congratulated Faheem on his match-turning innings whereas critiquing the remainder of the batting lineup.
Former spinner Saeed Ajmal additionally joined the reward, including a light-hearted remark.
“Thank you Ranaaaa saaabbb!! Warna ham Shayad India ke saath khelnay ka soch hi lety [otherwise we might have though we should play India],” he wrote.
In the meantime, pacer Rumman Raees additionally praised the batter’s late cameo.
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed took to his social media to add a narrative praising Faheem Ashraf.
Screengrab of instgram story of fromer Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed praising Faheem Ahraf, February 7, 2026.— Instagram@sarfaraz54
Followers and social media customers additionally piled in with celebratory posts. Author and commentator Nadeem Farooq Paracha wrote: “Embarrassment averted. Thank you, Faheem Ashraf.”
A netizen posted: “Thank You Rana For Saving Us.”
One other hailed Faheem’s late surge, urging followers to “Relive Rana Faheem Ashraf’s crazy hitting” and crediting “3 massive sixes” for sealing the outcome, whereas one fan quipped: “Once Rana flew a kite in childhood, people call it Basant now.”
