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Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win but Bangladesh take T20 series
Sahibzada Farhan plays a shot during the third and final Twenty20 international cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on July 24, 2025. Photo: AFP Listen to article Paceman Salman Mirza grabbed three wickets and opener Sahibzada Farhan struck an aggressive fifty in Pakistan's consolation 74-run win in the third T20 on Thursday as Bangladesh took the series 2-1. Mirza, playing only his third international, demolished Bangladesh's top order with figures of 3-19 as the home team was bowled out for 104 in 16.4 overs in Dhaka. Farhan's 41-ball 63 studded with five sixes and six fours got Pakistan off to a strong start and Hasan Nawaz clubbed 33 off 17 balls to help them to 178-7 after they were sent in to bat. 6️⃣3️⃣ off 4️⃣1️⃣ balls@RealSahibzada is named player of the match for his fine knock 👏#BANvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 24, 2025 Mirza struck with the second ball of the innings, dismissing Tanzid Hassan caught behind for nought which triggered a batting collapse. Only Mohammad Saifuddin contributed a score of note as he made an unbeaten 35. Mohammad Naim (10) was the only other Bangladesh batsman to reach double figures. Seamer Faheem Ashraf took 2-13 and Mohammad Nawaz wrapped up the win with the final two wickets. Having already won their first-ever T20 series against Pakistan with victories in the first two matches, Bangladesh rested five of their main players including spearhead Mustafizur Rahman. Pakistan had scored 110 and 125 in the first two matches -- also in Dhaka -- losing by seven wickets and eight runs respectively. Clinical all-round display 🏏 Pakistan finish the T20I series with a commanding 74-run victory 💫#BANvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 24, 2025 Farhan, who replaced Fakhar Zaman as one of two changes for Pakistan, put on 82 for the opening stand with Saim Ayub (21). Farhan fell in the 12th over to spinner Nasum Ahmed who finished with 2-22 in his four overs. Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed took 3-38. Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with 27 off 16 balls down the order to help Pakistan add 46 runs in the last five overs.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Jaker Ali's half-century guides Bangladesh to 133 against Pakistan
Faheem Ashraf strikes early in the second over, removing Mohammad Naim for just 3 runs. Photo: PCB/X Listen to article In a display of clinical pace and control, Pakistan restricted Bangladesh to just 133 in the second T20I in Mirpur, with Jaker Ali's fighting 55 standing out as the lone resistance against an attack that shared wickets evenly across the board. Pakistan captain Agha Salman won the toss and opted to bowl first — a decision that paid early dividends as Bangladesh's top order crumbled under pressure. The hosts lost their first wicket in the second over when Faheem Ashraf dismissed Mohammad Naim for just 3, caught behind while attempting a scoop. Parvez Hossain Emon and skipper Litton Das tried to steady the innings but could only take the score to 25 before Salman Mirza removed Das, continuing his impressive run from the first T20. Terrific start from the Pakistan bowlers ⚡ Bangladesh are 4️⃣ down inside the Powerplay 🏏#BANvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 22, 2025 Panic soon followed. Towhid Hridoy was run out just two balls later, and Emon was dismissed by Mirza in the next over for 13 off 14 balls as Bangladesh were reduced to 28 for 4 inside the powerplay. Ali then partnered with Mahedi Hasan in a much-needed recovery, stitching a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket. Just as the partnership began to give the hosts hope, Mohammad Nawaz struck to remove Mahedi for a well-played 33. Pakistan pacer Ahmed Daniyal receives his T20I debut cap from team manager Naveed Akram Cheema 🧢✨#BANvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 22, 2025 Pakistan's bowlers maintained their grip on the game, cleaning up the tail with disciplined bowling. Despite the collapse, Ali stood firm at one end, anchoring the innings with a gritty 55 off 48 deliveries, including five sixes. He was the last man to fall — bowled off the final delivery of the innings — as Bangladesh were dismissed for 133, setting Pakistan a target of 134. Salman Mirza, Abbas Afridi, and Zaman Khan shared the bowling honours, each claiming two wickets as eight Bangladeshi batters failed to reach double figures.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Pakistan wins toss and puts Bangladesh into bat in second T20
Pakistan cricket captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and put Bangladesh into bat in the second T20 in Mirpur on Tuesday. Pakistan handed Ahmed Daniyal his international debut. He replaces leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in the team's only change after it lost the first match by seven wickets. Bangladesh made two changes with Naim Sheikh replacing opener Tanzid Hasan and paceman Shoriful Islam coming in for Taskin Ahmed. The third and final match in the series is also in the Dhaka suburb of Mirpur on Thursday. Line-ups: Bangladesh: Parvez Hossain Emon Naim Sheikh Litton Das (captain) Tawhid Hridoy Shamim Hossain Jaker Ali Mahedi Hasan Rishad Hossain Tanzim Hasan Shoriful Islam Mustafizur Rahman Pakistan: Saim Ayub Fakhar Zaman Mohammad Haris Hasan Nawaz Salman Ali Agha (captain) Mohammad Nawaz Khushdil Shah Faheem Ashraf Abbas Afridi Salman Mirza Ahmed Daniyal.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pakistan wins toss and puts Bangladesh into bat in second T20
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Pakistan cricket captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and put Bangladesh into bat in the second T20 on Tuesday. Pakistan handed Ahmed Daniyal his international debut. He replaces leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in the team's only change after it lost the first match by seven wickets. Bangladesh made two changes with Naim Sheikh replacing opener Tanzid Hasan and paceman Shoriful Islam coming in for Taskin Ahmed. The third and final match in the series is in Mirpur on Thursday. Line-ups: Bangladesh: Parvez Hossain Emon, Naim Sheikh, Litton Das (captain), Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal. __ AP cricket:
The National
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan can come back into Pakistan's T20 team - here's how
For close to five years, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been the faces of Pakistan cricket. The pair have played a significant role in numerous victories, none more memorable than their unbeaten partnership of 152 runs that handed Pakistan their first win against India in the ICC men's World Cup of any format in Dubai in 2021. Yet, for the third consecutive T20 International series this year, including a tour to New Zealand, a home series against Bangladesh, and the upcoming Bangladesh tour, neither player has been selected for the T20 squad. The omission comes despite them being the top two run-scorers in the world in T20Is over the past five years. Rizwan has amassed 3,229 runs while Babar has 2,752, but they have done so at strike rates hovering just below 130, a figure which is seen as outdated in modern T20 cricket. Starting from the tour of New Zealand earlier this year, Pakistan's selection strategy for T20 cricket has had a noticeable shift. The focus has moved away from runs accumulation to intent, impact and strike rate. As a result, the quickest two centuries in Pakistan's T20I history happened this year: Hasan Nawaz's 44-ball ton in Auckland and Mohammad Haris' 45-ball century in Lahore. In the recent series against Bangladesh, Pakistan also scored back-to-back 200s for the first time in seven years. This new approach is also reflected in the recently selected squad for the Bangladesh series, which features five of the top seven T20 batters by strike rate since the start of 2024: Hasan Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris and Khushdil Shah. The two from the top seven missing out are Azam Khan, largely due to fitness concerns, and Haider Ali, who appears to have been ignored after being given multiple opportunities in recent years. Though it can be argued perhaps Haider deserved another go as a late-order hitter, potentially in place of Hussain Talat. The presence of Salman Agha and Talat, batters whose strike rates are relatively modest, suggests that Pakistan haven't entirely abandoned the idea of including anchors. Among Pakistani batters with at least 500 T20 runs since 2024, Talat ranks 14th in strike rate (136.72), Agha sits 18th (133.44) and Babar, just a step behind, ranks 19th (132.20). Agha might not be an explosive batter, but his leadership has been a driving force behind Pakistan 's move to high-intent batting and for that reason he does not occupy a specific spot in the batting order. During the recent Bangladesh series, he had three 50s in four innings. Even so, he demoted himself to number five to provide a better combination to the team. That is something which Pakistan's erstwhile captains were reluctant to do. Agha's value as an off-spinning option only strengthens his place in the squad. That said, it does not mean it is the end of the road for Babar and Rizwan in T20s. Both have been a part of Pakistan's training camp in Karachi where Mike Hesson, the team's white-ball coach, threw some weight behind Babar. 'Babar is competing with one of the opening positions at the moment. We have Fakhar and Saim in those roles at the moment, so he is competing for that,' Hesson said. Another factor that could go in favour of Babar is the next two important events: the T20 Asia Cup, for which UAE is the likely venue, and the T20 World Cup, where Pakistan will play all matches in Sri Lanka under the hybrid-model agreed with India. Both tournaments might produce a few games where totals close to 160 are par. The scoring rates in UAE (8.03) and Sri Lanka (7.87) in T20s since the start of 2024 are modest compared to the other major host nations. Plus, the pressure of high-octane games in the global events might occasionally require a batting style where you need to occupy the crease. In such environments, where power-hitting can be neutralised by a sticky pitch and scoreboard pressure, you might need more than one anchor in the team. Recent history backs this: three of the past six matches in the knockout stages of T20 World Cup – the final in Melbourne in 2022 and the semi-finals in Guyana and Trinidad in 2024 – didn't demand extraordinary strike-rates. All eight T20 World Cup clashes between India and Pakistan have produced low to moderate totals, the highest being India's 160 in Melbourne in 2022. Hesson's remarks also hint that despite Sahibzada Farhan's stellar form in 2025, in which he has most sixes (67) by a batter from Pakistan and four centuries, he may not be in the first choice XI. With Haris and Hasan Nawaz now at number three and four positions, Agha fluctuating in the middle-order and Fakhar and Saim preferred as openers, Farhan might find himself on the fringes despite his stunning record. And if that happens, Babar and Rizwan might not just be competing with Saim and Fakhar but also Farhan. Looking ahead, Pakistan have enough fixtures to optimise their squad before the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled for February and March in India and Sri Lanka. With at least 20 T20s, and up to 24 should Pakistan reach the Asia Cup final, Pakistan have ample opportunity for experimentation and refinement. But as Pakistan do not have any domestic T20s before the T20 World Cup, the only way Babar and Rizwan can reclaim their positions is by doing through something extraordinary in ODI cricket, a format in which Pakistan are scheduled to play nine matches (three each against West Indies, South Africa and Sri Lanka), or by putting a strong show in the Big Bash League where the duo are set to debut in December. Pakistan's upcoming T20 fixtures July - Bangladesh (Away, 3 matches) July-August - West Indies (Away, 3 matches) August - Afghanistan (Home, 3 matches) September - Asia Cup (Away, 2 to 6 matches) October - South Africa (Home, 3 matches) November - Sri Lanka (Home, 3 matches) February - Australia (Home, 3 matches) Pakistan's squad for Bangladesh T20I series Probable XI: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim.
