BAN VS PAK T20I

We are done and dusted with the 3-match T20I series and now the action will shift to the 2-match Test series involving these two teams. The first Test starts on 26th November 2021 in Chattogram. The match will begin at 10 am local (4 am GMT) but you can join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers!

There is no trophy handed to Pakistan as it will be given to them after the completion of the Test series.

Babar Azam, the winning captain of Pakistan, says that every individual performed and credits his boys for showing the fight and winning the matches. Adds that they need to keep improving and is happy with the way their fielding has improved. He wants to reduce the mistakes. Tells that they will take this winning momentum into the Test series.

MOHAMMAD RIZWAN IS CHOSEN FOR THE PLAYER OF THE SERIES AWARD! Says that he is happy with his performance in this series as his knocks have helped Pakistan win. Adds that the pitch was tricky and especially when you play away, the pitch would behave differently but says that they assess the situation and conditions and look to stick to their plans. States that he has worked on his keeping from the past year. Ends by saying that he appreciates the fans as they have supported them well.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH IS HAIDER ALI! Says that the conditions were tough for batting and appreciates Rizwan for helping him. Feels that it got close towards the end but is happy that Pakistan won the match. Tells that they were picking their bowlers and trying to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Mahmudullah, the captain of Bangladesh, says that the batters of both Bangladesh and Pakistan struggled as it is not too easy to bat on this wicket and once you get settled in, only then can you capitalize. Says that Afif and Naim batted very well and they tried to build the pressure on Pakistan. Mahmudullah appreciates the way Taskin came back after getting injured and is happy that all the bowlers stuck to their processes.

Presentation time...

Pakistan cricket team's interim head coach Saqlain Mushtaq comes up for a chat. Says that it was quite close and Pakistan held the nerves nicely and credits Bangladesh also for fighting right till the end. Tells that when you go out of the country, you need to figure things out but he feels that his boys have executed the plans well. Opines that Pakistan are taking things seriously and are ticking all the boxes and are trying to help each other in the dressing room too. Says that it is a great thing for Pakistan that they have a passionate bunch of players and they are all pushing each other.

The Pakistan bowlers bowled with great control and skills to restrict Bangladesh to another mediocre total. They made quite a few changes in their bowling lineup for this game but the debutant Shahnawaz Dahani and others were on target and delivered what their captain asked them to at the start of the innings. The bowling was particularly impressive at the death as they gave away just 35 runs in the final five overs. On the batting front, they started on a cautious note as Babar and Rizwan started accumulating runs. Babar looked a little out of touch and once he departed Rizwan and Haider put on a solid partnership. Rizwan fell in the 16th over but Haider took the game deep and with wickets in hand, they were looking as favourites to win this one. There was a major hiccup in the last over but the visitors crossed the line courtesy of a biggie from Iftikhar Ahmed and a boundary from Mohammad Nawaz.

The same story was repeated in the third T20I as well, as Bangladesh ended up on the losing side again. The same batting issues keep haunting them as their batters once again failed to put a reasonable total on the board. They lost an early wicket in the Powerplay and tried to consolidate after that. They did that and had wickets in hand during the last 5 overs. But, their perennial issue of lack of power-hitter in the middle order cost them again as the innings never got the kick it needed. On the bowling front, though, they were on target and despite defending a low total bowled with a great heart. They didn’t take many wickets and Pakistan needed 8 runs with 8 wickets in hand in the last over. Mahmudullah's last over did set the cat among the pigeons but in the end, Mohammad Nawaz kept his cool and hit a boundary on the last ball of the game to take Pakistan home.

Hats-off to the Bangladesh skipper for that brilliant last over. An eventful final over which included three wickets and a six and a boundary, and Pakistan just managed to get over the line in this thriller of a game. It is the first time Bangladesh have tasted a whitewash on home soil in this format in a series with at least 3 games.

One ball to face, two runs to get and Mohammad Nawaz has become the hero this evening by scoring a boundary. A blazing shot from him to seal the deal and Pakistan have completed the whitewash in the 3-match T20I series. What a pulsating match! Well played, Bangladesh. Well fought but once again their batting let them down. The crowd has gone silent but they know that Bangladesh showed a great fighting spirit till the very last ball. Incredible.

FOUR! PAKISTAN HAVE WON THIS! Mohammad Nawaz keeps his nerve this time. Too many stoppages and that could have unnerved him but he keeps his cool. Mahmudullah hurls across a fuller ball, outside off this time, Mohammad Nawaz skips out, gets to the pitch of the ball and smacks this one over covers for a boundary. PAKISTAN WIN BY 5 WICKETS AND WIN THE SERIES 3-0!

Hang on! This time Mahmudullah pulls out. Khushdil Shah immediately parks his bat inside the crease at the bowler's end. Mind games.

Drama, more drama! Mohammad Nawaz is not ready and Mahmudullah has delivered. It breaks the stumps but Nawaz has his hands raised to show that he was not ready. Tension. Pressure. No argument done by Bangladesh. Mahmudullah gets ready to reload.

Mohammad Nawaz is the next batsman and he will be on strike. Super Over, anyone?

OUT! TAKEN! This game does not fail to surprise us even more. With just 2 needed, Pakistan have lost one more wicket. Mahmudullah comes over the wicket and serves a fuller ball this time, slanting away outside off, Iftikhar Ahmed gets low and looks to smack this across the line, but he only connects this with the outside edge. The ball loops up towards the point region and Yasir Ali (sub) pouches this easily. 2 needed to win and one needed for the Super Over. Who will keep their nerve?

SIX! WOW! Iftikhar Ahmed delivers for the visitors! No hat-trick for Mahmudullah and Ahmed completely smashes this one. This is bowled fuller now, around off, Iftikhar Ahmed gets low and smokes this one over the bowler and well over long off right now. 2 needed in 2 now!