Pakistan set to begin fresh chapter with Bangladesh T20Is

The real test for the newly-appointed head coach Mike Hesson will begin from Wednesday (tomorrow) when Pakistan will meet Bangladesh in the opener of the three-match T20I series at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Mike, a former New Zealand cricketer, took charge on Monday as his squad, barring those part of the HBL PSL final, underwent training for the important home series to give final touches to their preparations.

The match will begin at 8pm Pakistan Standard Time.

Following a poor performance against New Zealand at the latter’s backyard recently, Pakistan will be looking to regain some sort of respect against Bangladesh who also have their own issues, having recently lost the T20 series against UAE 2-1 at Sharjah.

Having left out the Rizwan-Babar pair once again, along with left-armer Shaheen Afridi, for the series it would be a great challenge for the hosts who have got back their two key players, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, who are expected to play a major role in the series.

Pakistan’s skipper Agha Salman said that they would not underestimate Bangladesh but will try to play their best cricket.

“No international series is easy. Bangladesh is a good team and we will try to play this series in the best possible way,” Salman told a news conference on Tuesday.

“Bangladesh pacers are very good as compared to their past history and their batsmen are also fine. Litton Das is the sort of batsman if we contain him then it will help us but we will target the entire lot.

“There is no pressure as there is a great talent in Pakistan. But yes Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi have been the best cricketers and their role will be there in Pakistan white-ball cricket in future as well as they have won matches for Pakistan. There are so many players who can replace anyone anytime.”

Salman said they eye forming a solid pool ahead of the T20 World Cup.

“We will try to constitute such a playing XI who would be the best and we want to create a pool of 20 to 25 players which will help the side when injury comes at crunch moment. Its team and we, all along with head coach, constitute team and I have also a role as a skipper,” Salman said.

Salman said that he expects good umpiring in the absence of DRS.

“DRS is helpful and it's difficult without it but we have to trust umpires and I hope they will do good umpiring,” Salman said.

Pakistan have a few opening options and Salman did not reveal who will open in the first game.

Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub opened the innings in the PSL while Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz were used by their teams in the middle order despite having temperament as openers.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammad Abbas Afridi has replaced Mohammad Wasim Junior in Pakistan's T20I squad. Wasim picked up a side strain during the HBL PSL and was not able to recover in time.

Abbas has represented Pakistan in 20 T20Is having snapped 33 wickets. He was also the joint-second leading wicket-taker in the HBL PSL X with 17 scalps.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh skipper Litton Das also was optimistic about his team’s winning chances in the series.

“Irrespective of the past performance we will try to deliver against Pakistan,” Das told a news conference.

“If we play good cricket we can beat any team. We have a good and balanced side and we are now very much capable to do well.

“Conditions are similar to what we witnessed in the PSL which were high scoring games. We will need to play good and smart cricket if we are to beat Pakistan.”

Bangladesh, the other day, received a huge blow ahead of the series when their key seamer Mustafizur Rahman sustained injury in his last IPL game and was ruled out of the Pakistan’s series.

He was replaced by Khaled Ahmed who joined the team last night.

Earlier, the series trophy was unveiled inside the Gaddafi Stadium by skippers of both teams, Salman Ali Agha and Litton Das.

Both teams have played so far 19 T20I matches with Pakistan winning 16 while Bangladesh could win only three.

Squads

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan

Bangladesh: Litton Das (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan (vice-capt), Tanvir Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Shoriful Islam.