ICC T-20 World Cup takes off with first match between Pakistan & Netherlands

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 began on February 7, 2026. The first match was played at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This was the first time the ground hosted a men's T20 international since 2010. It was also the first time the ground hosted day-night matches during this World Cup. The opening game was between Pakistan and the Netherlands. Pakistan decided to field first after winning the toss. The Netherlands scored 147 runs before losing all their wickets in 19.5 overs. Pakistan’s team then aimed to reach the target score. They managed to chase 148 runs, scoring 148 for 7 wickets in 19.3 overs. Pakistan won the match by 3 wickets with 3 balls remaining. The match featured some notable performances. Faheem Ashraf was named the Player of the Match for his strong batting. He scored an unbeaten 29 runs from just 11 balls. For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan was the top scorer, hitting 47 runs off 31 balls. On the side of the Netherlands, Scott Edwards scored 37 runs from 29 balls, making him the highest scorer for the team. In bowling, Salman Mirza was the most successful for Pakistan. He took 3 wickets for 24 runs in 3.5 overs. The match was officiated by umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights, while Richard Illingworth served as the third umpire. The game started at 11:00 AM local time. The play was divided into two sessions. The first session was from 11:00 to 12:30, followed by a short break from 12:30 to 12:50. The second session lasted from 12:50 to 2:20 PM. The match's timing allowed for a smooth flow of play for spectators and viewers. This match marked the first game of the tournament and set a lively tone for the competition. The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, which had not hosted men’s T20 matches for over a decade, was hosting its first day-night game for the World Cup. This setting added an exciting atmosphere for players and fans alike. As of the official start date, February 7, 2026, no other teams have confirmed their participation in the tournament. The cricket world is now looking forward to the upcoming matches and the teams that will compete in the tournament. The official stance is that the tournament is underway with Pakistan taking an important win in the first game. The results of this match are expected to influence team morale and strategies moving forward in the competition. The cricket officials and organizers are monitoring the progress of the World Cup closely, ensuring the event is conducted smoothly and according to the rules.