Dhaka: In a bid to secure their first-ever T20 series victory against Pakistan, Bangladesh is set to face the visiting team in the second match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium tomorrow. The game, scheduled to start at 6 PM, will be broadcast live on T Sports and Nagorik TV.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh is on the verge of making history after defeating Pakistan by seven wickets in the first match of the three-game series. A win in the upcoming match will not only seal the series for Bangladesh with a game in hand but will also mark their first series victory against a top-tier cricketing nation, following their recent series win in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan, who had previously swept Bangladesh in a three-match T20 series at home in May, struggled in the first game as Bangladesh's bowlers effectively exploited the home conditions. Taskin Ahmed delivered figures of 3-22, while Mustafizur Rahman caused significant damage with an impressive 4-0-6-2, restricting Pakistan to 110 runs in 19.3 overs. Bangladesh comfortably chased down the target with nearly five overs remaining.
On a challenging pitch, Bangladesh batted with ease, particularly opener Parvez Hossain Emon, who scored an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls to secure Bangladesh's fourth victory in 23 encounters against Pakistan. Notably, three of these victories have been achieved at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, bolstering their confidence for the series decider.
Bangladesh captain Liton Das commented on their familiarity with the Mirpur wicket, stating, "It's not an easy wicket to bat on, but the way we batted, it looks good." He expressed a desire to maintain this form in the second match. Bangladesh is expected to retain their winning lineup for tomorrow's game.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is determined to bounce back in what has become a must-win match for them. Head coach Mike Hesson acknowledged the team's misjudgment of the playing surface, stating, "We got off to a little bit of a flyer. Fakhar Zaman played four or five shots. It gave us a false indication about how the surface was playing."
Both teams have announced their squads for the match, with Bangladesh led by Liton Das and Pakistan by Salman Ali Agha. As anticipation builds for the second encounter, all eyes will be on whether Bangladesh can capitalize on their momentum and secure a historic series win against Pakistan.