Last Updated on 2 months ago by Charbel Coorey

Barely 72 hours after the T20 World Cup Final, ODI cricket returns in Mirpur as Bangladesh and Pakistan seek a change in fortunes. Pakistan missed out on the semi-finals in disappointing fashion, while Bangladesh sadly did not participate at all.

The hosts need to win this series to overtake West Indies in the ICC ODI rankings. The Tigers currently sit in 10th position after a poor run of results including a series defeat in West Indies in 2024, poor 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, and defeats against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan last year.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s team have no room for error as they need to be ranked ninth or higher to seal automatic qualification for next year’s ODI World Cup.

For Pakistan, this series is billed as a time to give new players an opportunity. They left experienced players including Babar Azam out of their squad, fielding six uncapped players instead, with an eye to the future. Coach Mike Hesson is excited about what’s ahead.

“We have got some fresh faces that have done well in the Shaheens. They have earned the right to get some opportunities at the next level. We are excited as a group to involve them,” Hesson said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“I think our challenge over here is adapting to the pitch quickly. Regardless of what’s thrown at us, we have got to make sure we have got a team ready to challenge Bangladesh in their own conditions.”

BAN vs PAK 1st ODI 2026 Possible Playing XIs

Bangladesh have confirmed that Litton Das will bat in the middle order to counter spin.

“[Litton] is one of our better players of spin bowling. The middle order has been one of our Achilles heels. So, him going down there with his experience and his skills, hopefully we can get what we need there,” said coach Phil Simmons, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Bangladesh: 1. Saif Hassan, 2. Soumya Sarkar, 3. Towhid Hridoy, 4. Najmul Hossain Shanto, 5. Litton Das (wk), 6. Afif Hossain, 7. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), 8. Rishad Hossain, 9. Taskin Ahmed, 10. Tanvir Islam, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Pakistan are set to field a host of ODI debutants, including Sahibzada Farhan. According to Shaheen Shah Afridi, Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat and Shamyl Hussain will form the top three, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Pakistan: 1. Sahibzada Farhan, 2. Maaz Sadaqat, 3. Shamyl Hussain, 4. Mohammad Rizwan, 5. Salman Agha, 6. Hussain Talat, 7. Ghazi Ghori (wk), 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), 10. Mohammad Wasim/Haris Rauf, 11. Faisal Akram

Shere Bangla National Stadium Mirpur Dhaka Pitch Report and Weather

Shere Bangla National Stadium is typically very spin-friendly. Last year, the Bangladesh-West Indies ODI series had spinners send down 84% of the overs. Since the start of 2023, the top nine wicket-takers in ODIs on this ground are spinners.

However, coaches Simmons and Hesson said the surface looks better for this match. Also, captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz spoke of Bangladesh’s need to move away from the surfaces seen against West Indies.

“The thing is that in trying to play in home conditions, we will not be playing on bad wickets. We will still try to play on good wickets but try to get home advantage,” Mehidy said, as quoted by Daily Star.

There is the chance of afternoon rain, although AccuWeather’s hourly forecast predicts good weather with a top of 31 degrees.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for BAN vs PAK 1st ODI 2026: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicketkeeper picks:

• Muhammad Rizwan has two fifties in five ODIs against Bangladesh (173 runs, avg. 57.66, SR 93.01).

Key batter picks:

• Sahibzada Farhan enters this series in strong form after topping the run-scoring chart in the T20 World Cup. Farhan is also a capable 50-over player, with 2,926 List A runs at an average of 41.80 and strike rate of 85.85 in 72 matches.
• In 2025, Salman Agha hit 667 ODI runs at an average of 47.6 and strike rate of 93.3, including three fifties and two hundreds. It is his preferred format.
• Najmul Hossain Shanto has an important role to play for Bangladesh as he bats in the top three.

Top allrounder picks:

• Mehidy Hasan Miraz has scored 234 runs (including a century) and picked up 28 wickets in ODIs at Shere Bangla Stadium. He can contribute with bat and ball.

Key bowler picks:

• Rishad Hossain has taken 12 wickets in three ODIs on this ground, albeit on very spin-friendly surfaces against West Indies. He can contribute with the bat too, making him a very handy Dream11 pick.
• Abrar Ahmed can test Bangladesh with variations on this ground. He has 28 wickets in 14 career ODIs to date at an average of 20.78 and economy of 4.44.
• Can Shaheen Shah Afridi discover his best form? Bangladesh are susceptible to losing early wickets and the left-armer has 12 wickets in four ODIs against the Tigers (avg. 12.25, econ. 4.18).

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Litton Das has had a poor run of form in ODIs, hitting just six runs in his last six innings. He returns in the middle order to counter spin. In all ODIs, Litton has scored 1,002 runs against spin at an average of 35.8 and strike rate of 95.8. He also has a terrible record on this ground (see below).
• Haris Rauf will be looking to make a statement after missing out on selection for the T20 World Cup. He has taken six wickets in two ODIs against Bangladesh (avg. 9.16).
• Mustafizur Rahman loves the Shere Bangla National Stadium. He has taken 55 wickets in 29 innings at an average of just 17.58 and economy of 4.15.
• Maaz Sadaqat is a hard-hitting batter who has a List A strike rate of 101.88 (972 runs, avg. 38.88). Shamyl Hussain also has strong List A numbers: 13 inns, 556 runs, avg. 46.33, SR 100.18.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 39, Bangladesh 5, Pakistan 34.
• Litton Das has an awful ODI record at Shere Bangla Stadium Mirpur: 20 inns, 294 runs, avg. 14.70, SR 62.15.
• Left-arm wristspinner Faisal Akram has played four ODIs – three against Zimbabwe and one against Sri Lanka – yielding seven wickets at 17.42 to date.
• Towhid Hridoy in ODIs on this ground: 5 inns, 113 runs, avg. 22.60, SR 63.84.
• Taskin Ahmed in ODIs on this ground: 18 inns, 30 wickets, avg. 21.23, econ. 5.10.
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz vs. Muhammad Rizwan in ODIs: 37 balls, 35 runs, no wickets.

BAN vs PAK 1st ODI 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today Match

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

BAN vs PAK 1st ODI 2026 Match Prediction: Who will win?

Given Bangladesh possess more ODI experience across their XI, I will back them to win this game.

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.