The Netherlands opening batter Max O’Dowd has said that he felt more anger from Indian fans than Dutch supporters after dropping a crucial catch against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026.
A viral video at Delhi airport captured the right-hander, saying he feared he might be denied entry into India, as online comments had been aggressive and could have caused serious restrictions.
Max O’dowd after reaching Delhi 😭 https://t.co/G8VLdQpDZC pic.twitter.com/nmuSItrZPh
— 𝐑. (@fanmahida) February 10, 2026
The incident followed the thrilling three-wicket victory of the Men in Green over the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, where the visitors fell short despite a strong fight in the final overs.
The opening encounter , played on February 7, saw the Salam Ali Agha-led side reach their target three balls early, securing two vital points in Group A and creating a tense finish for both teams.
The decisive moment came in the penultimate over, when Pakistan required 29 runs from 12 balls, placing the Netherlands under severe pressure as they attempted to defend a modest total.
Logan van Beek bowled a slow full toss to allrounder Faheem Ashraf, who mistimed his shot, sending the ball high in the air toward long-on, creating a critical catching opportunity.
Max O’Dowd sprinted to the ball and attempted a two-handed catch, but the ball struck his hands and head before falling to the ground, allowing Pakistan to continue their chase.
This missed chance proved costly for the Netherlands, as Faheem Ashraf capitalized fully, scoring crucial runs and steering Pakistan toward a last-over victory in a high-pressure opening fixture.
After the match, Indian fans heavily criticized Max O’Dowdon social media, particularly Instagram, using offensive language and blaming him for the Netherlands’ defeat, creating a wave of online abuse.
