BAN vs PAK: Fresh from their historic T20I series victory in Sri Lanka (SL vs BAN), Bangladesh are now set to encounter a much more challenging test as they take on Pakistan, a team that has dominated them historically in the T20 format. With the first T20I scheduled to be played on Sunday in Dhaka, Bangladesh would like to take their newfound confidence into a game that has been one-sided in the past.
Head-to-Head: Pakistan Dominance, But Bangladesh Hopeful
Pakistan has a whopping 19-3 head-to-head record in T20Is against Bangladesh and had last swept the home series 3-0 in Lahore this May. But Bangladesh’s recent performance, including their first-ever T20I series victory over Sri Lanka, provides some hope for a change, particularly on home soil at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, where Bangladesh have won two of their three games against Pakistan.
Bangladesh’s Recent High: BAN vs PAK Series Victory
SL vs BAN T20I series earlier this month witnessed Bangladesh with impressive performances both with the bat and ball. The key performances were made by:
Litton Das: Picked up form with crucial top-order scores
Tanzid Hasan: Played a match-winning 73* with 6 sixes in the last T20I
Towhid Hridoy & Shamim Hossain: Reliable contributions in the middle order
Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan & Mustafizur Rahman: Effective bowling spells that sealed the series
The team, however, remains a work in progress with a lack of consistency being one of their key concerns.
Pakistan’s Strategy: Aggression from Ball One
Pakistan will likely continue to adhere to their aggressive style of play, which was extremely effective in their last series against Bangladesh. With coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Agha at the helm, the team is intent on optimizing the powerplay, using their explosive top-order batsmen:
Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, and Sahibzada Farhan are likely to be fired upfront.
Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, and Khushdil Shah provide solidity in the middle and lower order.
Shadab Khan’s absence would impact the balance, which would then propel Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil into vital all-rounder positions.
In the Spotlight: Tanzid Hasan vs Mohammad Haris
Tanzid Hasan (Bangladesh)
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One of the standouts in the SL vs BAN series, Tanzid Hasan, is now a vital cog in Bangladesh’s lineup. His 73 off 48 balls* in the third T20I was not only match-winning but also proved he could clear boundaries at will. Tanzid is now the quickest Bangladeshi to five T20I half-centuries, ticked in 27 matches.
Mohammad Haris (Pakistan)
Haris shocked all with a sizzling century in the last T20I against Bangladesh in Lahore. As the first Pakistani non-opener to hit a T20I ton, Haris has raw power combined with intelligent shot selection. With experience from the BPL, he’ll be one to watch in Mirpur’s home conditions.
Probable XIs for First T20I: Bangladesh vs Pakistan
Bangladesh:
Parvez Hossain Emon
Tanzid Hasan
Litton Das (capt, wk)
Towhid Hridoy
Shamim Hossain
Jaker Ali
Mahedi Hasan
Rishad Hossain
Tanzim Hasan
Shoriful Islam
Mustafizur Rahman
Pakistan:
Sahibzada Farhan
Saim Ayub
Mohammad Haris (wk)
Hasan Nawaz
Salman Agha (capt)
Khushdil Shah
Hussain Talat
Faheem Ashraf
Abbas Afridi
Salman Mirza
Abrar Ahmed
Pitch and Weather Conditions: Low Scores Likely in Mirpur
The Shere Bangla National Stadium has a habit of providing slow and low tracks, particularly for T20Is, with average scores ranging around 125. Nevertheless, if the pitch is similar to BPL standards, scores around 150 are within the realm of possibility. Weather reports suggest the possibility of rain interruptions on match day.
Key Stats to Know Before the Match
Mahedi Hasan has claimed 30 T20I wickets in powerplays since January 2021, the most by a spinner.
Mohammad Haris is the first Pakistani non-opener to have scored a T20I century.
The series is just the third time T20Is are played in Bangladesh in July, following 2015 and 2023.
Can Bangladesh Break the Jinx?
While Pakistan began as outright favourites, Bangladesh’s form post-SL vs BAN victory makes them a tougher proposition than the figures indicate. With talented up-and-comers like Tanzid Hasan and veteran campaigners in their bowling attack, Bangladesh may pull off an upset in what could be an absorbing series opener in Dhaka.
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