Netherlands bowler rues missed moments after his side let slip multiple winning positions in their T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan

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Netherlands seamer Paul van Meekeren offered a brutally honest assessment after his side’s narrow defeat to Pakistan in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener in Colombo, insisting that the result was more about missed opportunities than Pakistan’s dominance. “I want to be very clear — Pakistan didn’t win the game today, we lost the game against ourselves,” Van Meekeren said, stressing that the Dutch side had controlled key phases of the contest. He added that Netherlands were the better team on the day, particularly with the ball, and felt they had done enough to deserve victory and potentially knock Pakistan out of the tournament early.

Netherlands were in strong positions throughout their innings with the bat. After a steady powerplay that yielded 50 for 2, they reached 123 for 4 after 15 overs with captain Scott Edwards well set at the crease. At that stage, a total in the region of 170 looked achievable, but a sudden collapse saw three wickets fall in the space of five deliveries. That loss of momentum proved costly, with Netherlands eventually finishing on a below-par 147 after failing to capitalise on their promising start.

Defending the total, Netherlands produced an outstanding bowling effort that pushed Pakistan to the brink. Van Meekeren was central to the fightback, finishing with figures of 2 for 20, both wickets coming in a game-changing over. A spectacular sliding catch from Roelof van der Merwe removed the in-form Sahibzada Farhan, before Usman Khan chopped on just two balls later. The pressure intensified as Babar Azam holed out, Mohammad Nawaz laboured through a painful innings before falling, and Shadab Khan was strangled down the leg side on the very first ball of the next over, leaving Pakistan reeling.

With 23 required off 11 balls, Netherlands were firmly in control until a single moment shifted the balance. A high chance from the last recognised batter offered a match-winning opportunity, but the catch went down, allowing Pakistan to stay alive. Reflecting on the turning points, Van Meekeren credited Pakistan for taking the game deep but felt Netherlands could have done the same with the bat. He pointed out that the bowling conditions suited his side and that the pressure was squarely on Pakistan in the closing overs, but admitted that execution in crucial moments fell just short.

Despite the disappointment, Netherlands have little time to dwell on the loss. The team flies to India on Sunday ahead of their next group match against Namibia on February 10. Van Meekeren highlighted the strong team culture within the squad, acknowledging the frustration in the dressing room while emphasizing collective belief and support. He insisted the focus now is on staying true to their approach and converting strong performances into results as the tournament progresses.