KEY POINTS
- Three uncapped players included as Pakistan begins World Cup 2027 preparations in Bangladesh
- Pakistan holds dominant 34-5 ODI record against Bangladesh
MIRPUR: The captains of Pakistan and Bangladesh unveiled the trophy for the upcoming three-match One Day International series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with the first fixture scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi and Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz posed with the silverware ahead of the series opener, which marks the start of a bilateral engagement between the two Asian sides.
Series schedule and venue
All three matches of the series will be contested at the Mirpur venue, with the first ODI taking place on March 11, followed by the remaining fixtures on March 13 and 15 respectively.
The series represents Pakistan’s first international assignment since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan enters the series on the back of a dominant 3-0 home clean sweep against Sri Lanka in November last year.
That victory marked Shaheen Afridi’s second series as ODI captain, following a 2-1 home triumph over South Africa.
The prize both teams will fight for! Trophy unveiled for the Bangladesh vs Pakistan ODI Series 2026. 🏏🏆#BCB #Cricket #Bangladesh #Pakistan #ODI #Tigers pic.twitter.com/AWXOEJHu5y
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 10, 2026
Historical record
Pakistan holds a commanding advantage in the head-to-head record between the two nations.
In 39 previous ODI encounters, the Green Shirts have secured victory on 34 occasions, while Bangladesh has emerged victorious five times.
Selection debate addressed
The Pakistan squad for this series features six uncapped players, with established names including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, and Saim Ayub omitted from the touring party.
The selection prompted discussion among cricket observers regarding the reasoning behind the changes.
Addressing reporters during the pre-series press conference, Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi clarified that no player had been dropped from the squad, emphasising the decision reflected a strategic approach to future planning.
“Look, no one was dropped for this series; we just want to give an opportunity to our youngsters, and they also are our future,” the Pakistan captain explained.
“We want to give an opportunity against Bangladesh, and I think when the time comes, they also know their role and what’s coming in the future for the World Cup. We just need to ready our team for the World Cup, and that’s just the opportunity for the youngsters to go and show their skills.”
Shaheen identified the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup as the target for which the current squad is being assembled, with the Bangladesh tour serving as an early platform for emerging talent to gain international exposure.
Assessment of opposition
The Pakistan captain acknowledged the challenge posed by the hosts, particularly given their familiarity with local conditions. Bangladesh recently secured a series victory against West Indies on home soil.
“Of course, any team in home conditions, they’re the best team. Bangladesh had a good side and they played very good cricket in home conditions, they beat West Indies,” Shaheen noted.
He expressed confidence in his own side’s form, pointing to their recent performances in the format.
“As a team we prepare, and we played the last two ODIs against South Africa in Sri Lanka, so we played very good cricket, so we just continue that.”
Squad Compositions
Pakistan Squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shamyl Hussain.
Bangladesh Squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Kumer Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana.
The series provides both teams with valuable ODI cricket as they build toward future international commitments, with Pakistan particularly focused on integrating new talent into their 50-over setup.
