اردو
  • Pak vs Ban: Pakistan beat Bangladesh in thriller first T20I

    • Last modified on
    • Published in Sports
    1st T 20: Pakistan to take on Bangladesh in first T20I in Dhaka today File Photo 1st T 20: Pakistan to take on Bangladesh in first T20I in Dhaka today

    Pakistan were able to beat Bangladesh by four wickets in the first T20I of a three-match series in Dhaka on Friday, courtesy late fireworks by Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz.

    Shah smashed 34 off 35 balls, with three fours and a six, Khan managed to score 21 off balls, with a four and two sixes, while Nawaz scored 18 off eight balls also hitting a four and two sixes.

    Bangladesh bowlers smashed through Pakistan's batting line up earlier as Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for 11, skipper Babar Azam seven, and Haider Ali went back to the pavillion for a duck.

    However, Fakhar Zaman took charge. He was able to hit 34 off 36 balls, with four fours.

    Earlier, Bangladesh failed to impress as they managed only 127 runs at the end of their 20 overs.

    A resurgent Hassan Ali was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for off his four overs. He was aided by Mohammad Wasim, who took two wickets while Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz chimed in with one wicket each.

    Afif Hosain scored the most runs for Bangladesh, making 36 runs off 34 balls before he was stumped by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off a Shadab Khan delivery.

    Bangladesh opted to bat first against Pakistan after winning the toss.

    Pakistan rested Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 12-member squad named by skipper Babar Azam yesterday.

    On the other hand, Bangladesh played leg-spinner Aminul Islam, and three pace bowlers, including Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam. Saif Hassan is making his debut.

    After losing the toss, the Pakistan captain said that he would have opted to bowl first had he won the toss.

    The Men in Green will be looking to continue the winning momentum and clinch the series.

    The two sides have clashed in 12 T20Is, Pakistan have won 10 out of the matches with Bangladesh recording both their wins at the same venue in the one-off T20I in 2015 and the 2016 Asia Cup encounter.

    From the World Cup squad, Mohammad Hafeez is the only player who opted out of the team, with Iftikhar Ahmed brought on as his replacement.

    Bangladesh are missing several senior players who have been ruled out due to injury or rested after a disastrous World Cup campaign, where they failed to win a single Super-12 match.

    Captain Mahmudullah Riyad said his side were looking to start afresh and put the Dubai debacle behind them. "Whatever happened happened. If we think much about it that would affect us negatively. We want to think positive," he said.

    Playing XI

    Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr

    Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mahmudullah (capt), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Aminul Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman