- June 1, 2025
After a three-year trouble of Bangladesh’s T20I visit to the home series, Pakistan won in style. Although Sahibzada Farhan hit an explosive fifty, Hasan Nawaz waited, with patience, to finish the match calmly, aided by the seemingly effortless, match-winning spell of Abrar Ahmed’s spin. The 57-run victory at Lahore was not simply a win, it was not just a post-COVID moment. It was deeply significant in terms of performance and meaning: let’s forget this for now, but shall it be, all in your name.
Farhan’s PSL Form Becomes Pakistan’s Fortune
Back in the PSL and straight to business—Farhan didn’t just show up, he showed off, finishing as the 2025 top scorer with confidence to spare. After a little early slice of luck (thank you, Tanzid Hasan), Farhan went through the gears with savage intent. He smashed six sixes in his 74 from just 41 balls and made the Bangladesh bowlers look like they were still doing the warm-up. But it is not just the runs that made this knock special, it was the timing of it. With Pakistan on the lookout for a reliable opener in T20Is, Farhan’s fluency at the top of the order, particularly in the powerplay, could be the difference in the World Cup. His 103-run partnership with Mohammad Haris was done with ease, and they barely broke a sweat!
Nawaz’s Underrated Knock and a Death Overs Masterclass
While Farhan and Haris did get the early damage done, it was Hasan Nawaz who ensured that Pakistan made it past 200 runs. His unbeaten 51 was not explosive, but it was smart, destructive, and timely. Entering the post-Farhan phase, Nawaz did not bother nervously slogging every delivery. He picked his moments, targeting Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz with clinical precision. With partners collapsing at the other end, Nawaz played the role of the lone warrior, anchoring and finishing with poise. As an aside, in the last five overs, Pakistan only scored two fours and a six reflection of Bangladesh’s death bowling, but Nawaz’s measured aggression made certain they had more than enough. He didn’t just show up for a few runs; he showed up to shift the momentum.
Abrar’s Spin Web: From Sixes to Stumps
Farhan got the innings started, and Nawaz set the innings in flight, but Abrar Ahmed sealed the deal for Bangladesh. The mystery spinner was dreadful in the first T20I, but then made good on his opening promise with a bang, when, after the opening stand had set Bangladesh up fairly nicely, he decimated the middle order with a classic mix of pace and flight. It did not take long for the inscrutable spinners to get the wickets of Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, and Shamim Hossain in quick succession, and for those Bangladesh fans (and some players) in total shock, they went from 44/0 to 56/5 in the space of only three overs. Pandemonium. And even with a light-hearted fifty from Tanzim Hasan at No. 9 (correct), the chase fizzled out. Abrar for 3 for 19 were not meaningless numbers, and were evidence that a good quality spin-bowling performance can still win matches in T20.
The team has a 2-0 lead with the intent of either testing out some of those warming the bench or attempting to get a clean sweep. Either way, the signs are good. So, back to the question at hand, have we just seen a consistent, fearless Pakistan T20I team emerge? Or will the omnipresent inconsistencies appear, sooner or later? Got an opinion?
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