Sahibzada Farhan brutally mocked by Paul van Meekeren with a bunny-hop celebration in the T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan is facing the Netherlands in the opening game of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo. After being elected to field first on a green top wicket, Pakistan restricted the Dutch to 147 runs in their 20 overs. Salman Ali Agha’s side was brilliant with the ball and in the field as well. Coming out to chase, they looked in complete control.
Sahibzada Farhan, who was looking in good touch until the end of the 10th over, with Pakistan being 98/2. He fell to a short ball on the 11.1 over to Paul van Meekeren, who mocked the batter after picking his wicket.
Sahibzada Farhan mocked by the Netherlands pacer
The Dutch pacer did a bunny-hop celebration as the former fell after scoring a good 47 off 31 balls. In the same over, van Meekeren also picked up the wicket of wicket-keeper batter Usman Khan, who was dismissed for a duck. Pakistan is now in deep trouble from 98/3 to 107/5 after the 14th over.
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Babar Azam, who has been questioned for his strike rate, was playing an anchoring role while Farhan was striking brilliantly. However, the former fell in the very next over to Roelof van der Merwe, scoring 15 off 18 deliveries. The Netherlands has had the habit of producing upsets in the ICC events, and they surely have a chance with half of the Pakistan team back in the dugout.
Netherlands is close to another upset
The Men in Green would hope to finish off the game as early as possible, as any upsets in this game would have serious consequences for them, with their next match being scheduled against arch-rivals India.
Sahibzada Farhan has been their best striker in recent times, as his tussle with Jasprit Bumrah in the Asia Cup 2025 was viral, and he got some headlines after striking the World No.1 bowler at a good pace.
Pakistan struggles to chase 148
Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz have lost their wickets on the final ball of the 15th over and 16.1 over, respectively. With 119/7, Pakistan found themselves in shallow water in the run chase. We can expect a good, thrilling end to the first match of the marquee competition, and the Netherlands is closer to another upset in the tournament.
Now the tailenders, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf needs to do some batting with 29 needed off 12 balls. The Men in Green lost five wickets in the span of 16 runs. This has been the problem of Salman Ali Agha’s side since the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Pakistan, which has been in the headlines for the fiasco between them and India for boycotting the match, will be harshly criticised as this will be back-to-back upsets for them after they lost to the USA in the super over in the 2024 edition of this competition.
Also Read: Salman Ali Agha shoots death stare at Sahibzada Farhan after suicidal mix-up in T20 World Cup
