Catch of the T20 World Cup? Babar Azam ensures Pakistan dodge the memes
Pakistan shrugged off opening-day jitters with a rare fielding masterclass. Babar Azam's stunning relay catch set the tone in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener against the Netherlands in Colombo.
It is not often that Pakistan tick most of the boxes on the opening day of an ICC tournament. If memory serves, at the last T20 World Cup, the former champions were stunned by debutants USA in their opening fixture. This time, however, Pakistan proved many wrong with an inspired fielding performance in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener against the Netherlands in Colombo on Saturday, February 7.
PAK vs NED, T20 World Cup: Updates | Scorecard
The highlight of the morning at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) was a moment of pure, athletic desperation that instantly went viral. In the fourth over, Dutch opener Michael Levitt — who had been taking the attack to Shaheen Afridi — unleashed a ferocious lofted drive off Mohammad Nawaz.
The ball appeared destined for the long-off boundary until Babar Azam intervened. Sprinting at full tilt, Babar plucked the ball out of the air just inches from the rope. Realising that his momentum would carry him beyond the boundary cushion, he showed remarkable spatial awareness by flicking the ball back into play. Shaheen Afridi, tracking the action from mid-on, completed the relay catch to send a stunned Levitt back to the pavilion for 24.
For a side often mocked for butterfingers and comical mid-pitch collisions, it was a defining moment. The catch did more than just break a threatening 28-run opening stand; it signalled a visible shift in intensity.
WAS BABAR AZAM’S CATCH LEGAL?
The spectacular effort felt like a vindication of the relay-catch technique, which had been shrouded in controversy just months earlier. During the 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup, Indian fielders Nehal Wadhera and Naman Dhir combined for a near-identical effort against Pakistan Shaheens to dismiss Maaz Sadaqat. On that occasion, however, the third umpire stunned viewers by ruling it Not Out, citing a controversial 2025 MCC law interpretation relating to fielders grounding themselves outside the boundary after releasing the ball.
That decision was later widely acknowledged as an umpiring error by experts. Babar’s execution on Saturday, by contrast, was textbook perfection.
Later in the innings, Babar showed it was no one-off by pouching a sharp, low chance to dismiss the dangerous Bas de Leede for 30, ensuring the Netherlands could not capitalise on their steady start.
Backed by Abrar Ahmed’s stranglehold in the middle overs and Saim Ayub’s late double strike, Pakistan’s fielding remained uncharacteristically airtight. By holding on to their chances and patrolling the boundary with renewed vigour, the Men in Green not only neutralised the Dutch threat but also managed to dodge the inevitable opening-day memes that have haunted recent campaigns.
Pakistan finished with as many as nine catches against the Netherlands on Saturday. It all began when wicketkeeper Usman Khan safely held a high chance, calling clearly — a refreshing change from past Pakistan wicketkeeping mishaps.
Captain Salman Ali Agha joined the party too, taking a fine catch near the boundary to dismiss Roelef van der Merwe.
Fast bowler Salman Mirza was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while the spin trio of Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub chipped in with two apiece. The Netherlands were left rueing their collapse, having lost their final seven wickets for just 42 runs — a disappointing end to what had promised to be a competitive total.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
It is not often that Pakistan tick most of the boxes on the opening day of an ICC tournament. If memory serves, at the last T20 World Cup, the former champions were stunned by debutants USA in their opening fixture. This time, however, Pakistan proved many wrong with an inspired fielding performance in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener against the Netherlands in Colombo on Saturday, February 7.
PAK vs NED, T20 World Cup: Updates | Scorecard
The highlight of the morning at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) was a moment of pure, athletic desperation that instantly went viral. In the fourth over, Dutch opener Michael Levitt — who had been taking the attack to Shaheen Afridi — unleashed a ferocious lofted drive off Mohammad Nawaz.
The ball appeared destined for the long-off boundary until Babar Azam intervened. Sprinting at full tilt, Babar plucked the ball out of the air just inches from the rope. Realising that his momentum would carry him beyond the boundary cushion, he showed remarkable spatial awareness by flicking the ball back into play. Shaheen Afridi, tracking the action from mid-on, completed the relay catch to send a stunned Levitt back to the pavilion for 24.
For a side often mocked for butterfingers and comical mid-pitch collisions, it was a defining moment. The catch did more than just break a threatening 28-run opening stand; it signalled a visible shift in intensity.
WAS BABAR AZAM’S CATCH LEGAL?
The spectacular effort felt like a vindication of the relay-catch technique, which had been shrouded in controversy just months earlier. During the 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup, Indian fielders Nehal Wadhera and Naman Dhir combined for a near-identical effort against Pakistan Shaheens to dismiss Maaz Sadaqat. On that occasion, however, the third umpire stunned viewers by ruling it Not Out, citing a controversial 2025 MCC law interpretation relating to fielders grounding themselves outside the boundary after releasing the ball.
That decision was later widely acknowledged as an umpiring error by experts. Babar’s execution on Saturday, by contrast, was textbook perfection.
Later in the innings, Babar showed it was no one-off by pouching a sharp, low chance to dismiss the dangerous Bas de Leede for 30, ensuring the Netherlands could not capitalise on their steady start.
Backed by Abrar Ahmed’s stranglehold in the middle overs and Saim Ayub’s late double strike, Pakistan’s fielding remained uncharacteristically airtight. By holding on to their chances and patrolling the boundary with renewed vigour, the Men in Green not only neutralised the Dutch threat but also managed to dodge the inevitable opening-day memes that have haunted recent campaigns.
Pakistan finished with as many as nine catches against the Netherlands on Saturday. It all began when wicketkeeper Usman Khan safely held a high chance, calling clearly — a refreshing change from past Pakistan wicketkeeping mishaps.
Captain Salman Ali Agha joined the party too, taking a fine catch near the boundary to dismiss Roelef van der Merwe.
Fast bowler Salman Mirza was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while the spin trio of Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub chipped in with two apiece. The Netherlands were left rueing their collapse, having lost their final seven wickets for just 42 runs — a disappointing end to what had promised to be a competitive total.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score