COLOMBO: Former Pakistan cricketers and fans alike have praised all-rounder Faheem Ashraf for a late match-winning cameo that steered the Pakistan national cricket team to victory over the Netherlands national cricket team in their opening match of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Saturday.
Chasing 148, Pakistan had to sweat in a tense chase before Faheem’s blistering 29 off 11 balls, including two fours and three sixes, swung the match their way.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan also played a key role, hitting 47 off 31 deliveries with four boundaries and two sixes.
Batting first, Holland 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 congratulated Faheem along with Yasir Hameed for his match-turning innings, while criticizing the rest of the batting line-up.
Former spinner Saeed Ajmal also joined in the praise and added a light-hearted comment.
“Thanks Ranaaa saaaabbb!! Otherwise we would probably think of playing with India. [otherwise we might have though we should play India]” he wrote.
Meanwhile, pacer Rumman Raees also praised the batsman’s late cameo.
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed took to his social media to upload a story praising Faheem Ashraf.
Fans and social media users also poured in with celebratory messages. Writer and commentator Nadeem Farooq Paracha wrote: “Embarrassment averted. Thank you, Faheem Ashraf.”
A netizen wrote: “Thank you Rana for saving us.”
Another praised Faheem’s late surge, urging followers to “relive Rana Faheem Ashraf’s crazy strokes” and credited “3 huge sixes” for sealing the result, while a fan quipped: “Once Rana flew a kite in his youth, now people call it Basant.”
