Pakistan won by 3 wickets. Netherlands faced Pakistan in Group A of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo on Saturday, 7 February 2026, starting at 11:00 local Sri Lanka time (UTC+5:30). The ground holds 10,000 spectators and opened the tournament’s first full day of matches.

Pakistan’s victory by 3 wickets marked an authoritative Group A opening, though the margin suggested Netherlands made them work for it. Pakistan entered the tournament with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan forming one of international cricket’s most consistent batting partnerships. Netherlands, qualifying for multiple consecutive ICC events, had demonstrated genuine T20 competency and surprised stronger sides before.

Netherlands’ squad blended Dutch-born cricketers with talented diaspora players from cricket backgrounds across South Asia and the Caribbean. They had qualified for the T20 World Cup 2026 through strong Associate performances and represented European cricket’s growing strength. Pakistan’s express pace attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, was the toughest opening bowling combination Netherlands would face in the tournament.

The Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo holds 10,000 spectators and is one of Sri Lanka’s most storied cricket venues. Its relatively compact size creates an intimate atmosphere that amplifies crowd noise. The Colombo surface at the SSC Ground traditionally assists spinners through the match, making middle-over batting particularly challenging.

Timezone conversions for the 11:00 Sri Lanka time start: 5:30 AM GMT in London; 12:30 AM EST in New York; 4:30 PM IST in India; 4:30 PM in Colombo; 4:30 PM AEST in Sydney. Check Sri Lanka time for full timezone conversions.

The 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, hosted across India and Sri Lanka, featured 20 teams competing in 55 matches from February 7 to March 8, 2026. India won the tournament, defeating New Zealand in the final at Ahmedabad. Pakistan’s Group A campaign began here with this important win over Netherlands.

For timezone conversions, check Colombo time, Netherlands time, and Pakistan time.