- May 28, 2025
It is exciting to anticipate a new cricket season, in the sense that it brings doubts, expectations, and nerves. I am writing this whilst Pakistan and Bangladesh begin a short T20I series in Lahore. Both teams want to turn the page: Pakistan wants to put the last tour behind them with their new coach, and Bangladesh has injuries and is missing some of their best players. But don’t think for one moment that it is a one-way ticket. They play for more than just a match; they play for pride and a fresh story.
Pakistan’s Perpetual Reboot: New Coach, New Faces, Same Old Questions?
If the cricketing odyssey of Pakistan had a title on Netflix, it would certainly be “Reboots and Cliffhangers.” Under new white-ball coach Mike Hesson, who has a track record for coaching winning teams, one would think it is highly possible to revamp the T20 fortunes of Pakistan. However, that seems unlikely as Pakistan is still without the boots of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. They also come off a crushing 4-1 series loss to New Zealand.
What is interesting is that they have a combination of new players and returning players. With Saim Ayub back in action, Fakhar Zaman chasing consistency, and Hasan Ali bringing PSL firepower, the team’s depth looks revitalized. However, although there are new players, the order of the batting is still murky, and the array of seamers – like Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali – is still the way that this bowling attack leans.
Bangladesh’s Rocky Road: Missing Stars and a Captain Under Pressure
Bangladesh’s journey to this series appears to have been a bit of a rollercoaster ride, and it’s stuck in a loop. Just last week, they were shocked by the UAE in a result that impacted the entire group. With Mustafizur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, and Nahid Rana all opting out, the burden on the rest of the bowling attack has noticeably increased.
Captain Litton Das has to lift the badly depleted team morale, and his confidence is fluctuating from week to week, and even sometimes series to series, and from being in the team to being out of the team. Litton is unsure of his batting order position frequently. With Bangladesh struggling with an exceptionally fragile bowling unit, this means Litton’s task to hold the innings together is even more crucial. Shaun Tait is directly helping the pace bowling and hoping he inspires them somehow. Bangladesh will be heavily relying on spin, which is problematic for the selectors. They have to make a decision about either Mahedi Hasan or Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Conditions, Challenges, and What to Expect
Following the high-octane PSL final at the Gaddafi Stadium, we can expect the pitch to be a batter’s dream and plenty of runs to be scored. On top of all of that, Lahore is currently experiencing a heatwave, adding to the already tough conditions. While the start time may seem odd at 2 PM in the current temperatures, the batter must just be careful with their energy management and their concentration, which the weather will impact.
There’ll be no wultzy Hawkeye Tech; that was an expensive PCB that, at the end of the day, was not done per the PSL. You’ll be pleased to hear that this should allow for a few good near misses (to engage participants and fans) and add yet another layer of unpredictability to what may otherwise be an entertaining series.
Historically, Pakistan has dominated Bangladesh in T20Is, however, it is fair to say that the results have shown a slight closing of the gap, so these matches are not going to be one-way traffic.
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