Pakistan opener Saim Ayub was dismissed while attempting a bold no-look shot during the T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands. Fans mocked the young batter on social media following his dismissal in the World Cup opener at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday, February 7.
After winning the toss, Pakistan bowlers restricted the Netherlands to 147 runs. Salman Mirza led the attack with three wickets, while Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Saim Ayub chipped in with two wickets each. Bas de Leede was the highest scorer for the Dutch, scoring 30 runs from 25 deliveries.
Saim Ayub’s No-Look Shot Backfires in T20 World Cup Clash Against Netherlands
Saim Ayub tried to make an impact by playing attacking cricket against the Netherlands, but the risk did not work in his favor. The left-hander attempted a no-look lofted stroke and ended up gifting his wicket.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Aryan Dutt bowled a delivery around the off-stump area. Ayub, aiming to clear the boundary, failed to get into position and struck the ball off the leading edge. It went high in the air, and van der Merwe completed a clean reverse-cup catch.
Ayub’s innings ended at 24 runs from 13 balls, including four fours and one six. The dismissal gave Aryan Dutt an early success and removed a dangerous batter who had started quickly.
Saim Ayub tried a No-look shot and got out trying to flex against Netherlands. Only these guys can pull off something like this 😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/IIFKkw3Uh0
— Suprvirat (@Mostlykohli) February 7, 2026
Saim Ayub’s Dismissal Triggers Social Media Reactions
Saim Ayub’s dismissal sparked reactions on social media, with fans flooding platforms with jokes and criticism. One shared comment said, “Bro thinks he’s Abhishek Sharma,” comparing the Pakistan batter to the Indian cricketer known for his aggressive batting.
An attacking batting approach is common in T20 cricket, where batters often take risks to stay ahead of the bowlers.
Ayub is now expected to focus on learning from the setback and return stronger in the upcoming matches. He will look to play a more effective role for Pakistan in the World Cup.
Faheem Ashraf’s Cameo Seals Dramatic Win for Pakistan
Sahibzada Farhan anchored the innings with 47 off 31 balls, while Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha managed 12 runs from 8 deliveries. Despite scoring 61 runs in the powerplay and keeping the required rate under control, Pakistan lost momentum after the halfway stage.
The Netherlands tightened the screws by picking up wickets at regular intervals, increasing the pressure on the Men in Green. Babar Azam struggled to rotate the strike and was eventually dismissed.
The game turned in the final overs when Faheem Ashraf shifted the momentum with three sixes and a four in the 19th over bowled by Logan van Beek. Pakistan needed 29 runs from the last two overs, which quickly came down to 5 from the final six balls.
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem finished the chase in just three deliveries, with Faheem remaining unbeaten on 29 off 11 balls. Aryan Dutt picked up two wickets, while Paul van Meekeren finished with figures of 2 for 20.
Also read: India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match still on? Sri Lanka police not informed of any cancellation