MIRPUR, Bangladesh: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh in the second T20 International (T20I) of the three-match series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.
With Bangladesh leading the series 1-0, this match holds significant importance for Pakistan, who are aiming to level the series before the decider on July 24.
The hosts, meanwhile, will look to secure their first-ever T20I series win over Pakistan with another victory today.
In the series opener on Sunday, Pakistan suffered a disappointing seven-wicket defeat.
Batting first, the visitors were bowled out for a modest 110 in 19.5 overs, struggling against a disciplined Bangladeshi bowling attack.
In reply, Bangladesh chased down the target in just 15.3 overs, marking their largest victory over Pakistan in T20Is and their fifth-biggest overall.
Debutant fast bowler Salman Mirza was the standout performer for Pakistan in the first match, claiming two early wickets to leave Bangladesh at 7-2.
However, a steady 73-run partnership between Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy stabilised the innings.
Hridoy was dismissed for 36 off 37 balls, but Emon remained unbeaten on 56 to steer his side to victory.
Pakistan made no changes to their playing XI for the second T20I, sticking with their young lineup led by captain Salman Ali Agha.
The team includes Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Ahmed Daniyal.
Bangladesh also retained the same side, captained by Litton Das. Their playing XI features Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali (wk), Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, and Mustafizur Rahman.
🚨 TOSS ALERT 🚨
🪙 Pakistan win the toss and opt to field first in the second T20I 🏏#BANvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/AcmgkTTjgf
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 22, 2025
In their 23 T20I meetings to date, Pakistan have won 19 matches, while Bangladesh have registered four victories — the most recent being their win in the first match of this series.
Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson criticised the pitch conditions in Dhaka after Sunday’s loss, calling them “unacceptable” for teams preparing for the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.
He also acknowledged poor decision-making by his batters, including three run-outs during the innings.
The pitch is once again expected to be slow and two-paced, with early evening showers in the forecast that may interrupt play. The surface will likely test both batting line-ups once again.
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman is on the verge of a major milestone, needing 107 more runs to become only the fifth Pakistani to score 2,000 T20I runs.
