T20 World Cup: Nafay to Open with Ayub in Pakistan vs Netherlands Match
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to kick off with an exciting match between Pakistan and the Netherlands on February 7, 2026. The game will take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo, starting at 10:30 AM Pakistan Standard Time.
Nafay and Ayub to Open for Pakistan
Pakistani cricketers Khawaja Nafay and Saim Ayub are expected to form the opening partnership for the Green Shirts. Khawaja Nafay, 23, has previously played two T20 matches but gets the nod to join Ayub in this high-stakes opener, indicating that experienced batsman Fakhar Zaman may be benched.
Pakistan’s Probable Lineup
The anticipated lineup for Pakistan includes:
- Saim Ayub
- Khawaja Nafay
- Salman Ali Agha (captain)
- Babar Azam
- Shadab Khan
- Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Faheem Ashraf
- Salman Mirza
- Abrar Ahmed
Free Entry for Fans
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced that entry to the inaugural match will be free for fans. Gates number 5 and 7 will open at 9:30 AM local time to accommodate spectators.
Weather Concerns
The match may face weather challenges, with an 83% chance of rain predicted in the evening. Expected rainfall could be around 4.2 mm, raising concerns about interruptions during the game.
Previous Encounters
Pakistan and the Netherlands have faced each other on two previous occasions, with Pakistan emerging victorious each time. The Netherlands is yet to secure a win against the Green Shirts.
Team Squads
The squads for both teams are as follows:
| Pakistan Squad | Netherlands Squad |
|---|---|
| Salman Ali Agha (c) | Scott Edwards (c) |
| Abrar Ahmed | Colin Ackermann |
| Babar Azam | Noah Croes |
| Faheem Ashraf | Bas de Leede |
| Fakhar Zaman | Aryan Dutt |
| Khawaja Nafay | Fred Klaassen |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Kyle Klein |
| Mohammad Salman Mirza | Michael Levitt |
| Naseem Shah | Zach Lion-Cachet |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Max O’Dowd |
| Saim Ayub | Logan van Beek |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Timm van der Gugten |
| Shadab Khan | Roelof van der Merwe |
| Usman Khan | Paul van Meekeren |
| Usman Tariq | Saqib Zulfiqar |
With an exciting opener on the horizon, fans are eagerly anticipating this clash in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Stay tuned to Filmogaz.com for the latest updates and coverage.
