LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening match of the three-match T20 International series against Bangladesh at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha, leading the national side in the T20 format for the first time, chose to take first strike on home soil. The match also marks the beginning of Mike Hesson’s tenure as Pakistan’s new white-ball head coach.
Pakistan made six changes to the playing XI that featured in their last T20I series against New Zealand in March. Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman were recalled as openers, while Hasan Nawaz was included to bat at number five.
Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf filled the allrounders’ roles, with leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed also making a return to the squad.
Omair Yousuf, Usman Khan, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Ali were dropped from the squad that faced New Zealand.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, fielded the same side that played the third T20I against the UAE in Sharjah last week.
The team continues to miss the services of Mustafizur Rahman and Soumya Sarkar due to injuries, while pacer Nahid Rana opted out of the tour.
The match is expected to set the tone for both teams, who are aiming to bounce back from recent setbacks.
Pakistan suffered a 4-1 series defeat in New Zealand earlier this year, while Bangladesh endured a historic 2-1 series loss to the UAE — their first-ever bilateral T20I series defeat against the Gulf nation.
In head-to-head encounters, Pakistan enjoy a clear upper hand over Bangladesh, having won 16 out of 19 T20Is played between the two sides. Bangladesh have managed to win only three.
Pakistan Playing XI
Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Bangladesh Playing XI
Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Jaker Ali (wk), Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam.
