In a disappointing performance, Pakistan lost the second T20 International to Bangladesh by 8 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. With this win, Bangladesh sealed the three-match T20I series 2-0, exacting revenge for their earlier series defeat in Pakistan.
The hosts defended a modest total of 133 runs successfully, thanks to their disciplined bowling and Pakistan’s fragile top-order batting. This loss marks another setback for Pakistan under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Mike Hesson, especially against a relatively inexperienced and low-ranked Bangladesh side.
Bangladesh’s Innings: Recovery After Early Collapse
After winning the toss, Pakistan chose to field first and immediately put Bangladesh under pressure with the new ball. The hosts were reduced to 28 for 4 within the powerplay. Key wickets included:
- Liton Das (8)
- Parvez Hossain (13), hero of the first match
- Mohammad Naeem (3)
- Tohid Hridoy (0)
However, Jakir Ali and Mehidy Hasan steadied the innings with a valuable 53-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Jakir Ali stood out with a resilient 55 runs off 48 balls, hitting five sixes and one four, and was later named Player of the Match for his performance in tough conditions.
Mehidy Hasan supported well with 33 runs off 25 balls, including two sixes and two boundaries. The rest of the Bangladesh batting lineup couldn’t contribute significantly, with 8 players failing to reach double digits.
Pakistan’s pace attack was effective:
- Ahmed Daniyal, making his international debut, impressed with 2 wickets for 23 runs
- Abbas Afridi also took 2 wickets for 37 runs, including the crucial dismissal of Jakir Ali on the final ball of his spell
- Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with a wicket each
Bangladesh managed to post 133 runs in 20 overs, a total that seemed chaseable on paper.
Pakistan’s Batting: Powerplay Disaster
Chasing 134, Pakistan had a horrendous start, losing five wickets within the powerplay. The top order completely crumbled, and the team was reduced to 15 for 5 at one stage.
Notable early dismissals included:
- Fakhar Zaman (8) – although he achieved a personal milestone by breaking Babar Azam’s record of 52 international catches, reaching 53 catches
- Saim Ayub (1)
- Salman Agha (9)
- Muhammad Haris, Hassan Nawaz, and Mohammad Nawaz – all dismissed without scoring
In total, six Pakistani batters failed to reach double figures, and for the second consecutive match, Pakistan couldn’t even bat through the full 20 overs. The team was bowled out for 125 runs, falling short by just 8 runs.
Late Fightback from Faheem Ashraf and Abbas Afridi
Amid the top-order collapse, Faheem Ashraf emerged as the lone warrior. He played a fighting knock of 51 runs off 32 balls, smashing four sixes and four fours, keeping Pakistan’s hopes alive till the final overs.
He was supported by Abbas Afridi (19), with whom he built a 41-run partnership, the highest of the innings. Ahmed Daniyal added 17 runs, and Khushdil Shah contributed 13, but the effort was not enough to avoid defeat.
Bowling Brilliance by Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s bowlers executed their plans with accuracy and discipline.
- Shariful Islam was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets for 17 runs
- Tanzeem Hasan Sakib claimed 2 wickets for 23 runs
- Mehidy Hasan bowled tightly, taking 2 wickets for 25 runs
Their collective effort ensured that Pakistan never gained momentum during the chase, despite a brief resistance from the lower order.
A Series to Forget for Pakistan
This series defeat is a wake-up call for Pakistan as they continue to prepare for upcoming international competitions. With back-to-back poor performances from the top order and inability to chase modest totals, the team’s T20 setup faces serious questions.
The spotlight now turns to the team management and the need for a consistent, composed batting lineup that can perform under pressure. Meanwhile, Bangladesh celebrates a historic series victory at home, having also recently defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in an away series, proving their growing strength in T20 cricket.
As the teams look forward to the third T20I, Pakistan will aim to salvage pride, while Bangladesh will seek a clean sweep in front of their home crowd.
