Mirpur: After two contrasting performances left the three-match ODI series tantalisingly poised at 1-1, Pakistan and Bangladesh are set to lock horns in a winner-takes-all final encounter at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.
The decider promises high drama, with both teams desperate to avoid the batting collapses that have plagued them alternately in the first two fixtures.
Pitch and conditions: Home advantage or level playing field?
To its credit, the Shere Bangla National Stadium pitch has deviated from its traditionally unpredictable character in this series. The surface has offered proper bounce that fast bowlers have exploited when bending their backs, while spinners haven’t found excessive turn, conditions that have rewarded batters willing to play their shots freely.
The track has produced one one-sided affair each, leaving both teams uncertain about what to expect on Sunday. Adding to the intrigue, weather forecasts predict another thunderstorm similar to the one that interrupted the second ODI, potentially adding a rain-curtailment factor to the series finale.
The question looming over both camps remains: will Bangladesh revert to producing another raging turner after their heavy defeat, or stick with the flatter, bouncy tracks that have characterised the series so far?
Match recap: Pakistan storm back to level series
After being bundled out for a paltry 114 in the series opener, Pakistan produced a commanding all-round display in the second ODI to secure a emphatic 128-run victory via the DLS method. The win not only levelled the series but also exposed significant frailties in the Bangladesh batting lineup.
Pakistan’s batting resurgence
The foundation for Pakistan’s resurgence was laid by an impressive 103-run opening stand between Maaz Sadaqat and Sahibzada Farhan. The pair capitalised on favourable batting conditions, with Sadaqat in particular showcasing his immense talent.
Playing only the second ODI of his career, Sadaqat crafted a masterful 75, displaying a comprehensive range of shots. His belts down the ground and flicks to deep square-leg against pace were particularly eye-catching, marking him as a talent to watch. Salman Ali Agha (64) and Mohammad Rizwan provided valuable middle-order contributions, steering Pakistan to a formidable total of 274 before rain interruptions.
Bangladesh’s batting woes continue
In response, Bangladesh’s batting unit looked completely disorganised, never appearing capable of mounting a serious chase. The 128-run defeat brought uncomfortable truths to the surface about the home side’s batting depth and technique.
Only Litton Das showed appropriate aggression, but his efforts proved insufficient against a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack. The concerning pattern of collapses raises questions about several batters’ suitability for the longer format.
Pakistan’s bowling discipline shines
Pakistan’s bowling attack demonstrated significant improvement from their first ODI humiliation. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim complemented each other effectively, displaying better variations and enhanced discipline. Rauf’s performance was particularly noteworthy as he became the 23rd Pakistani bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets—a significant personal milestone amidst the team’s collective effort.
Key player battles to watch
Rishad Hossain vs Pakistan’s middle order
Legspinner Rishad Hossain’s stocks continue to rise following another solid performance in the second ODI, where he claimed three wickets during Pakistan’s middle-order collapse. His ability to mix legspin with the googly, combined with frequent changes of pace, makes him Bangladesh’s primary threat. However, his batting—which promised much after a breakout knock against Sri Lanka two years ago—hasn’t quite blossomed as expected, leaving Bangladesh short of a genuine all-rounder.
Maaz Sadaqat: Pakistan’s new match-winner
Sadaqat emerged as the undisputed star of the second ODI, not content with just his batting heroics. The young opener followed his 75-run knock with a three-wicket haul, becoming only the third Pakistan opener to achieve the double of a half-century and three wickets in an ODI. Aamer Sohail (twice in 1993 and 1995) and Shoaib Malik (2002) are the only other Pakistan openers to have accomplished this feat.
Sadaqat’s bowling shows considerable promise, with his ability to dip the ball into right-hand batters before spinning away or zipping in adding a valuable dimension to Pakistan’s attack.
The Agha-Miraz factor: Added edge to decider
Sunday’s decider carries an extra layer of intrigue following the controversial run-out of Salman Ali Agha in the second ODI. The incident, which saw Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismiss Agha at the non-striker’s end after the batter had bent down to return the ball, has reignited debates about the “spirit of cricket.”
The heated exchange between Agha and Das during the dismissal added further spice, with Agha later admitting: “I can’t remember what I was saying and I can’t remember what he was saying. I’m sure I wasn’t saying nice things, and I’m sure he wasn’t saying nice stuff as well. But it was just heat of the moment, so we are fine.”
Team news and probable lineups
Bangladesh Likely to Make Batting Changes
The hosts are expected to consider changes to address their batting fragility. Soumya Sarkar may be brought back to replace the out-of-form Saif Hassan, who has registered two low scores in the top order. Saif’s lack of footwork, exposed in the longer format, has made him a liability despite his T20 credentials.
Among the fast bowling unit, Shoriful Islam could rotate in if Bangladesh opt for fresh legs.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Saif Hassan/Soumya Sarkar, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Towhid Hridoy, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 5 Litton Das (wk), 6 Afif Hossain, 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Nahid Rana, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
Pakistan forced into change after Talat injury
Pakistan will have to replace the injured Hussain Talat, who was stretchered from the field during the second ODI after suffering a shoulder injury. Promising newcomer Ghazi Ghori is expected to step into the playing XI.
The visitors are likely to retain the winning combination that served them so effectively in the second outing.
Pakistan (probable): 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Maaz Sadaqat, 3 Shamyl Hussain, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Abdus Salam, 7 Ghazi Ghori, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), 10 Mohammad Wasim, 11 Haris Rauf
Form Guide
Bangladesh: LWWLW (Last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Pakistan: WLWWW
The deciding factor: Which batting unit shows up?
As both teams prepare for Sunday’s showdown, the central question remains unchanged: which batting unit will take the field? Will it be the lineups that crumbled to 114 all out—Pakistan in the first ODI and Bangladesh in the second—or the confident units that posted competitive totals and chased effectively?
For Bangladesh, the onus is particularly heavy. As the home side, they must put up an improved batting display or face defeat on their own turf. The top order needs urgent attention—Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy must provide greater stability, while Saif Hassan’s position looks increasingly precarious.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will draw confidence from their comprehensive turnaround. Their bowling attack, led by the experienced Shaheen Shah Afridi and the in-form Haris Rauf, appears well-equipped to exploit any Bangladesh weaknesses. The emergence of Maaz Sadaqat as a genuine match-winner adds depth to both their batting and bowling resources.
Statistics and trivia
Maaz Sadaqat became the third Pakistan opener to score a half-century and take three wickets in an ODI, joining Aamer Sohail (twice in 1993 and 1995) and Shoaib Malik (2002)
Haris Rauf became the 23rd Pakistani bowler to take 100 wickets in ODIs during the second match
Pakistan’s 128-run victory in the second ODI was their largest against Bangladesh in Bangladesh since 2015
Sunday’s series decider has all the ingredients of a classic contest, two talented but inconsistent batting lineups, a pitch that has rewarded strokeplay, weather threats that could complicate calculations, and the added spice of recent on-field confrontations.
For Bangladesh, victory would validate their progress and provide redemption after their heavy defeat. For Pakistan, a series win would demonstrate resilience after their first-match humiliation and underline their growing depth in the 50-over format.
