24-07-2025
‘Art of losing': Bangladesh beat Pakistan in T20 series, Shehbaz Sharif's praise for them sparks anger
Despite a determined lower-order fightback led by all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, Pakistan fell short by eight runs in the second fixture. They lost the series-opener Sunday which was also a low scoring encounter, with Bangladesh overhauling Pakistan's 110 all-out with 4.3 overs and seven wickets to spare.
The hosts secured the series with a narrow victory in a tense, low-scoring match at Mirpur's Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium 23 July, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match contest, with the final game scheduled Thursday.
New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Bangladesh for their T20I series victory against his own team and wished sports 'continue to unite our peoples', but the gesture riled up many social media users who unleashed a barrage of attacks on him and his team.
'Congratulations to Bangladesh on winning the 2025 T20I Series with Pakistan. I also commend our cricket team for their spirited performance. Wins and losses are part of the game, and that is the true spirit of sportsmanship. May these sporting ties between our two countries continue to unite our peoples and strengthen our bonds of friendship,' Shehbaz Sharif posted on X Wednesday.
Where is Imran Khan? AI answers
Sharif's post didn't sit well with social media users who launched a series of attacks. Some even quizzed where Imran Khan is? Some users dragged an AI chatbot too in the conversation.
'Got humiliated now even from Bangladesh?' read a post.
'Pakistan lost to Bangladesh. Since they ousted Imran Khan, every single thing in this country is rotting with every passing day. I don't feel bad for the Pakistani team. I have lost any interest in Pakistani sports, economy or honestly anything else. It just feels like a parasite infested rotting place on the earth,' wrote another user.
One user asked AI chatbot Ask Perplexity where Imran Khan, Pakistan's charismatic ODI world cup winning captain who was also voted to the prime ministership, was.
The chatbot responded, saying, 'Imran Khan is currently in prison in Pakistan—he's been behind bars since August 2023, mainly facing corruption and other legal charges that his supporters say are politically motivated. Despite his imprisonment, he's still active through public statements and his political party PTI continues to rally for his release.'
One of the users said Pakistan cricket has 'mastered the art of losing with a smile and a speech'.
'Maybe next time, send the press release before the match — save everyone the suspense. At this rate, even Zimbabwe's B team is double-checking their passports,' the post read.
Day out for bowlers
Winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha elected to bowl. The decision seemed to pay off as seven of the Bangladeshi batters could not enter a double-figure score.
At one point, Bangladesh was reduced to 28 for four, but Jaker Ali's 48-ball half century guided the hosts to a somewhat respectable total.
Ali added 53 runs with Mahedi Hasan for the fifth wicket. Hasan scored 33 off 25 balls before falling to Mohammad Nawaz in the 14th over. Hasan was the second top scorer for the team.
Bangladesh lost three more wickets in the form of Shamim, Tanzim and Rishad in quick succession, leaving Ali stranded on the crease. With just two wickets in hand, Ali struck some big shots—three more sixes—setting Pakistan 134 to win, not a daunting total in a T20I chase.
But what many thought should have been a cakewalk for Pakistan turned out to be a tough trudge for the tourists. Their batting order collapsed like a deck of cards. Half of the team was in the huts within the first five overs of the chase. Pakistan were reduced to 15 for five.
Congratulations to Bangladesh on winning the 2025 T20I Series with Pakistan.
I also commend our cricket team for their spirited performance.
Wins and losses are part of the game, and that is the true spirit of sportsmanship.
May these sporting ties between our two countries…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 23, 2025
The stylish left-handed Saim Ayub was run out in the first over after a mix-up with Fakhar Zaman. Rishad Hossain's quick throw from deep point got Bangladesh its first wicket.
Shoriful Islam, who came as a replacement for Taskin Ahmed for the match, struck with his third ball in the second over. He had Mohammad Haris pinned in front with a late-moving in-ducker for a golden duck. Fakhar Zaman also fell prey to Shoriful in the next over, caught down the leg-side for 8.
The double blow by Tanzim Hasan Sakib in the fifth over simply pushed Pakistan on the backfoot. He got Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz caught behind off consecutive deliveries, both for ducks.
While wickets kept falling from one end, Faheem Ashraf launched a counterattack from the other. His stroke-filled 32-ball half-century had four 4s and as many sixes. But as Ashraf threatened to chase down the total, spinner Rishad Hossain ended his brave fightback, bowling him out in the penultimate over.
Bangladesh skipper Litton Das, who just last week led his team to a 2-1 T20I series against Sri Lanka, praised the squad for their back-to-back series victories and the triumph against Pakistan.
'It's wonderful to win back-to-back series. This shows good improvement in our standards,' said Das.
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Salman Agha admitted his side's batting collapse. 'We thought 134 would be gettable but we lost too many wickets early on and that's something we must address quickly,' he said.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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