The T20 World Cup 2026 served up an early contender for catch of the tournament as Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi combined brilliantly to dismiss Michael Levitt during the Pakistan vs Netherlands clash. The moment of athletic brilliance came just when the Dutch innings was beginning to gather momentum, swinging the energy firmly back in Pakistan’s favour.
Pakistan, after winning the toss, opted to field first against Netherlands, backing their bowling depth and sharp fielding to apply early pressure. What followed in the fifth over was a piece of fielding that instantly caught the attention of fans across the cricketing world.
Tag-team catch from Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi remove dangerous Michael Levitt
The incident unfolded on the second ball of the fifth over, bowled by Mohammad Nawaz. Levitt, who had looked dangerous at the crease, crouched low and attempted to muscle the ball straight down the ground. He got enough of the bat to send it high and long towards the long-off boundary, momentarily raising hopes of a six.
Babar, patrolling the long-off region, sprinted to his right and judged the swirling ball perfectly. He completed the catch with both hands but, with his momentum carrying him beyond the boundary rope, showed remarkable presence of mind. Just before his right foot touched the rope, Babar lobbed the ball back into play. Shaheen, who had tracked back quickly from mid-on, timed his run to perfection and safely completed the relay catch.
The former Pakistan skipper erupted in celebration, fists clenched, as teammates swarmed around the duo. The crowd too roared in appreciation, fully aware they had just witnessed something special. Levitt’s dismissal proved to be a massive blow for the Netherlands, who lost a batter capable of accelerating rapidly.
Here’s the video:
A solid relay catch!
Babar Azam & Shaheen Afridi produce a great relay catch at the boundary!
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Pakistan strike early after Netherlands’ steady start
Before that moment of magic, the Netherlands had begun on a positive note. Openers Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd put together 28 runs, rotating strike smartly and punishing loose deliveries. Pakistan, however, struck first with the dismissal of O’Dowd, keeping the scoring in check.
Levitt’s exit soon followed, courtesy of the sensational Babar-Shaheen effort. The pressure continued to build as Colin Ackermann was also dismissed, leaving the Dutch side three down for 65 and searching for stability against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack.
Just as Pakistan seemed on top, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards and all-rounder Bas de Leede stepped up with a composed partnership. Mixing caution with timely boundaries, the duo steadied the innings and ensured wickets did not tumble in a heap.
Their stand helped the Netherlands cross the 100-run mark in the 13th over, giving fans hope that the side could still post a competitive total. With wickets in hand and set batters at the crease, the Dutch aimed to finish strongly despite Pakistan’s sharp bowling and electric fielding display.
