After rounds and rounds of negotiation and convincing, both Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) agreed to play a full-fledged series on Pakistani soil but in three phases. The first stage of Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan will commence with a three-match T20I series with the opener set to be played on January 24 (Friday) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. With the commencement of the T20I series, Pakistan will achieve a major feat in the world of cricket as they will become the first-ever country to feature in 150 T20I matches.
Pakistan have, thus far, played as many as 149 T20I matches having won 90 and lost 55. While three of Pakistan’s 149 T20I matches have ended in a tie, one was abandoned due to rain. Despite losing 3-0 to a second-string Sri Lankan side and 2-0 to Australia, Pakistan still maintain their dominance on the top of ICC T20I team rankings but the Babar Azam-led side will be aware that another series defeat could bring them down from the rankings chart.
In their last 10 T20I matches, Pakistan have won just two matches with their latest coming against South Africa in February 2019 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The Men in Green are currently on a six-match losing streak in the shortest format of the game and would like to win the three-match T20I series opener against Bangladesh in what will be a monumental day for Pakistan.
“As a captain it will be a great help with seniors around me and I get to learn a lot. We expect them (Malik and Hafeez) to perform. We will give them all three games and there will be the PSL after that, so with time the picture will be clear and then we will see. We made changes in the team because we had to, since players who were not in form had to be replaced,” Babar said in the pre-match press conference.
