The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 burst into life in Colombo with a moment of sheer brilliance, as Pakistan produced a stunning piece of fielding to dismiss Netherlands power-hitter Michael Levitt in the tournament opener.

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Attempting to muscle a delivery over long-on, Levitt crouched low and went hard at the ball, sending it soaring high and seemingly destined for the boundary. What followed left the stadium stunned. Babar Azam, sprinting in from long-off, launched himself into the air and initially grabbed the ball cleanly. Realising his momentum would take him beyond the rope, Babar showed remarkable presence of mind, popping the ball back into the field just before losing balance.

Charging in at full pace from mid-on, Shaheen Afridi judged the rebound perfectly, leapt at the right moment and completed the catch to perfection. The tag-team effort brought the crowd to its feet and sparked wild celebrations among Pakistan’s players, while Levitt trudged back after falling to one of the most spectacular dismissals the T20 format has witnessed in recent times.

The breathtaking catch served as an early statement from Pakistan in the World Cup opener, underlining their intensity in the field and sending a clear warning that every run and every chance will be fiercely contested in their title push.