Tigers hope to carry momentum against Pakistan

Fresh off a maiden series win in Sri Lanka, a buoyant Bangladesh side will face Pakistan in a three-match T20 series in hopes to bolster their efforts on home soil, report agencies.

The teams will clash in the first game at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in the city at 6pm today (Sunday), with the Tigers featuring an unchanged squad from the Sri Lanka tour.

In the shortest form of the game, Bangladesh have seen limited success, gained momentum against the Islanders after capping of the series with a crushing 8-wicket win in the series-decider.

It was a confidence-booting win for Bangladesh, who came into the T20 series on the back of a 0-3 clean sweep away in Pakistan.

Litton Das and his men will be extra motivated to get back against Pakistan, who are 19-3 ahead head-to-head against

Bangladesh in T20s.

During the tour of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh lost the two-match Test series 1-0 and the three-match ODI series 2-1. They also lost the first T20I, but made a remarkable comeback by winning the next two matches to seal the series 2-1.

Pakistan is one of only two sides, along with India, against whom Bangladesh's success rate in T20Is is significantly low despite having played over 10 matches. Bangladesh have played 22 T20Is against Pakistan, winning just three and losing 19. Against India, they have only one win in 17 encounters.

Bangladesh's batting seems up to the task now as Tanzid Hasan, Shamim Hossain and Litton Das racked up runs against Sri Lanka, but Pakistan's piercing bowling attack will pose a challenge.

They also have good memories of playing against Pakistan at the Shere Bangla National Stadium than anywhere else. Two of Bangladesh's three wins in T20Is against Pakistan have come at this venue, with the only other one coming in Hangzhou in the Asian Games in 2023.

For Pakistan, they will play with a squad that features six changes from the squad that beat the Tigers in their last meeting. The visitors will likely stick with the strategy that proved successful in Lahore. Their batters came

out aggressively against the Bangladesh bowlers, and both their bowling and fielding performances showed noticeable improvement throughout the three-match series.

The absence of all-rounder Shadab Khan might impact the team's overall balance, but they still boast experienced players such as Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf, who are both regular participants in Bangladesh's domestic cricket.

Khushdil

has played 12 matches in Mirpur, the most among the Pakistan players, while Mohammad Haris, Faheem, Abrar Ahmed and Abbas Afridi have also played in the competition.

Pakistan hold a 19-3 head-to-head record against Bangladesh in T20Is.

Pakistan are starting this series as the favourites, but Bangladesh usually thrive when they have a few wins under their belt, so this is unlikely to be a cakewalk for the visitors.

Squads: Bangladesh: Litton Das (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Naim, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin.

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Sufyan Moqim.