Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman (left) in motion throughout the first T20I towards Bangladesh on the Shere Bangla Nationwide Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on July 20, 2025. — Reporter
Khushdil Shah and Abbas Afridi’s accountable innings prevented Pakistan from an entire collapse as they set a 111-run goal for Bangladesh within the first T20I match on the Sher-e-Bangla Nationwide Cricket Stadium, Dhaka, on Sunday.
After being requested to bat first, Pakistan received off to a promising begin, with openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub discovering early boundaries to maintain the scoreboard ticking.
Nonetheless, the momentum rapidly shifted when Taskin Ahmed struck within the second over, eradicating Saim Ayub for six, leaving Pakistan at 18-1 in 1.5 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris briefly confirmed intent with a boundary off Mahedi Hasan within the third over however was dismissed on the very subsequent supply, decreasing Pakistan to 32-2.
The stress intensified within the fifth over as skipper Salman Ali Agha struggled to rotate the strike towards Tanzim Hasan Sakib. After lacking a number of deliveries, Agha finally fell for simply three runs off 9 balls, leaving Pakistan at 36-3.
Bangladesh continued to dominate within the ultimate over of the powerplay, with Mustafizur Rahman dismissing debutant Hassan Nawaz for a duck, reeling the guests at 41-4 in 5.5 overs.
Pakistan’s woes deepened when Mohammad Nawaz was run out following a miscommunication, making it 46-5 in 7.4 overs. Fakhar Zaman, who stood agency at one finish, tried to stabilise the innings with a hard-fought knock.
He scored 44 off 34 deliveries earlier than one other miscommunication—this time with Khushdil Shah—led to his run-out, leaving Pakistan at 70-6 in 11.3 overs.
Abbas Afridi injected some life into the innings with a quick counterattack, smashing three sixes, whereas Khushdil Shah contributed with helpful runs.
The pair added a 33-run partnership earlier than Mustafizur Rahman struck once more, eradicating Khushdil for a sluggish 17 off 23 balls. Pakistan had been 103-7 in 16.2 overs.
Within the ultimate levels of the innings, Faheem Ashraf was dismissed for 5 within the twentieth over by Taskin Ahmed, who continued his fiery spell.
Debutant Salman Mirza was then run out with out scoring, and Abbas Afridi fell for 22 in the identical over, giving Taskin his third wicket as Pakistan had been bowled out for 110.
For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed led the assault with figures of three wickets, whereas Mustafizur Rahman claimed 2. Mahedi Hasan and Tanzim Hasan Sakib chipped in with one wicket every.
