Bangladesh to play Pakistan in lone T20 today

With a sweet memory of winning One Day International (ODI) series 3-0, the high morale Bangladesh team will play successful T20 side Pakistan in the lone Twenty20 International today (Friday) at the home of Bangladesh cricket Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city, reports UNB.
The only shorter version cricket match between the two teams will kick off at 6:30 pm.
Veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi will lead the Pakistan T20 team today (Friday) against Bangladeshi proud captain Mashrafe Bin Mortuza, who whitewashed Azhar Ali-led Pakistan ODI team.
In record, Pakistan had enjoyed upper-hand advantage of winning 50 matches playing 85 T20I while Bangladesh won only 11 matches of 41 matches.
Bangladesh, which ranked 10th in T20 format, have not played any T20 cricket for more than a year after the World T20 at home and their last match was washed out in the West Indies in August last year.
Moreover, Bangladesh Cricket Board has not arranged any domestic T20 tournament since December 2013 to adapt the players with the format.
Shahid Afridi's side has T20 match-winners like Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir and Ahmed Shehzad. These players also appeared in domestic T20 tournaments all over the world. The top three wicket-takers in T20 internationals - Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi are all in present squad.
But, Bangladesh mostly depends on best performer of ODI series Tamim Iqbal along side promising batsman Soumya Sarkar, all rounder Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan and the most consistent batsman and test captain Mushfiqur Rahim.
All rounder Shakib Al Hasan has a chance to overcome spinner Abdur Razzak to become Bangladesh's highest T20 wicket-taker as both them grabbed 44 wickets.
Bangladesh may include Litton Das or Rony Talukdar in place of Mahmudullah and newcomer left arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman may also be given a chance.
BSS adds: Pakistani veteran batsman Shahid Afridi expressed his high hope about his team's fight back in the lone T20 match today (Friday).
Addressing a crowded press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium conference room, the right handed all- rounder also hoped that the T20 would not be a one-sided affair like the One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Terming their present T20 squad more balanced compared to the ODI squad at the moment, Afridi also said he is not expecting a much better performance from the young guys rather he wants little contribution from each members of the team.
Admitting Bangladesh as a tough rival in T20 format as they played good cricket in the ICC World Cup, the dashing Pakistani all-rounder said it would not be an easy task to win today's (Friday's) match against the host side.
Commenting on their whitewash against Bangladesh in the just concluded ODI series, Afridi said the newly formed Pakistan team, will need some time to form a balance team.
He said the team has little experience and it's not easy for the present team to play normal cricket in different conditions, but it is a positive side that the Pakistan team management is assisting the team members at the moment.
Bangladesh team: (Probable): Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmud -ullah /Liton Das/Rony Talukdar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza ©, Arafat Sunny, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman.
Pakistan Team (Probable): Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Rizwan, Mukhtar Ahmed, Shahid Afridi ©, Saad Nasim, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul.