Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in their first Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the Sher-eBangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur today. The match will start at 2.00pm (BST). State-owned television BTV, private satellite channel GTV and private satellite sports channel T Sports will telecast the match live from the arena.
Before today’s match, Bangladesh faced Pakistan 13 times. Of them, Bangladesh won twice, while Pakistan triumphed in 10 matches and rest one was abandoned.
Captain of Bangladesh T20I team Mahmudullah Riyad said, “Meseems that the wicket will be good. After the T20 World Cup, I think it is a challenge for us to perform well and we have to prove our capability.”
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, dashing opener Tamim Iqbal, promising all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin will not play in the T20I matches due to injury. Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar were dropped from the squad for their dismal performance in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. Pacer Rubel Hossain also is not in the squad.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Aminul Islam Biplob have been recalled in the Bangladesh squad. Promising Saif Hasan, Shohidul Islam, Akbar Ali and Yasir Ali have been included in the team. So, Bangladesh T20 team consists of promising players.
Riyad said, ” It is right that our team consists of newcomers. Though Shakib, Mushfiq were not in the squad I cannot discuss the experienced players. I shall try to use my sense and execute the decision using common sense.”
Captain of Pakistan T20 team Babar Azam said, ” Bangladesh are strong at home. They defeated Australia and New Zealand here. They showed their ability in those two series.”
He said, ” We gave rest to our regular four cricketers. There are newcomers in our squad who will play for the first time.”
Bangladesh squad : Mahmudullah Riyad (Captain), Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Yasir Ali, Mohammad Naim, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shamim Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam Biplob, Nasum Ahmed, Shohidul Islam and Akbar Ali.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (Captain), Shadab Khan (Vice-Captain), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shoaib Malik.
