'Facing Pakistan won't be easy'

Express Tribune

17-07-2025

Pakistan and Bangladesh will play three T20Is in Dhaka this month. Photo: AFP/File
Bangladesh captain Litton Das on Wednesday described the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan as a significant challenge, emphasising the strength of Pakistan's bowling attack.
Speaking at a press conference after the third T20I against Sri Lanka, he acknowledged that conditions in Dhaka could be difficult and that Pakistan would present a formidable test.
"Both series wins are massive. Winning in the West Indies and Sri Lanka is no small feat," he said.
Das made it clear that the series against Pakistan will not be easy, as their players have become familiar with the conditions by playing in the BPL.
"Pakistan in Mirpur won't be easy. They have a varied bowling attack and understand our conditions, especially through the BPL. But we believe we can win if we play smart cricket," he added.
Das expressed uncertainty about how the pitch will behave against Pakistan but noted that continuous rain in Dhaka could make batting conditions difficult.
"I don't know how the Mirpur wicket is going to behave during the Pakistan series. I think it is raining in Dhaka every day, so the wicket can be difficult for batting in such conditions," he said.
For the unversed, the Pakistan will play three T20Is against Bangladesh on July 20, 22 and 24, with Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium set to host all the matches.
The series marks a rematch between the two sides after their last encounter in May, where Pakistan sealed a 3-0 clean sweep at home.
Earlier this week, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officially announced ticket prices for the upcoming series, with prices ranging from Tk 300 to Tk 3,500, catering to a wide range of fans.
The BCB has prioritised a digital-first approach for ticket distribution. Starting July 15, tickets will be available exclusively online through the official eTicket platform.
Alternate series
he Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has begun exploring the possibility of organising an away series during the now-vacant August window, following India's decision to postpone their scheduled tour of Bangladesh.
The home series, originally scheduled for August 17–31, 2025 and featuring three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), has been rescheduled for September 2026.
The postponement came after the Indian government advised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to delay the tour due to rising political tensions between the two countries.
Speaking to the media in Dhaka, BCB Director Fahim said the board is actively looking for opportunities to play abroad during the unexpected gap in the international calendar.
"For that period, we were initially considering internal matches, similar to when the 'A' team played against the national side in previous years. That was part of our earlier planning," Fahim explained.
He further stated that the BCB remains flexible and is prepared with contingency plans.
"Right now, we are assessing whether it's feasible to organise a series with another team abroad, even for a short duration. If that doesn't materialise, we will conduct a domestic tournament instead," he added.
The BCB is expected to finalise its alternative plans soon, aiming to ensure that players remain engaged and match-fit despite the disruption to the schedule.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh is scheduled to host 49 international matches in the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle concluding in May 2027.
These include eight Test matches, two each against Ireland, Pakistan, West Indies, and England along with 20 ODIs and 21 T20 Internationals.