 Pakistan start the one-day series against Bangladesh as favorites, though they
know that any slip up in the three-match series could prove costly. The home side
did well to restrict Pakistani batsmen in the only Twenty20, only for their own
batting to collapse and hand Pakistan an easy victory.
Click for Live Score Card of Bangladesh Vs Pakistan
The Pakistani side will be happy with the way they performed in the T20I game.
The batsmen struggled to get to 135 but the way the bowlers bowled, it looks
like it is going to be a one, hard, series for the Bangladesh, as they
capitulated to 85 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq has said it time and again that his side
is looking to gain momentum with each win and therefore would like the boys
to stay hungry to win each match. The current series not only provides the opportunity
to do so, but also gives a chance for the young players to make the most out
of the consistent chances they are being given.
Batting will be a worry for Pakistan as its fragilities seen during the Sri
Lanka series were also on display in Tuesday's T20. Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq
- two talented batsmen - will look to score heavily to ensure they remain a
part of team's plans for the England series early next year. One eye should
also be kept on the whirlwind Shahid Afridi. Given the weak Bangladeshi
bowling, Afridi's record 300th six could come as soon as in the first match.
The star allrounder needs seven hits over the fence to reach the landmark.
For Bangladesh, their captain Mushfiqur Rahim has made the message very
clear - respectable defeats are no longer going to satisfy them. They need to
start winning matches and given the unpredictable nature of their opponents,
they could well have a sniff.
The task is not simple by any means. Their batsmen need to overcome the Pakistani
spinners, and Pakistan just keep churning them one after the other. It remains
to be seen whether their ace opener Tamim Iqbal will be available after
having missed the T20 due to a knee injury. Much will be expected yet again
off Shakib Al Hassan. Abdur Razzak's slow left-armers could also come in handy
as he has troubled most teams at home.
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