Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

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After much deliberation and back-and-forth, Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan is finally here.

The tour is split over three legs, with the first of three T20Is to take place in Lahore. Bangladesh performed admirably in India, but will now need a team effort in the absence for Mushfiqur Rahim (opted out of tour amid family’s concerns) and Shakib Al Hasan (suspended).

Pakistan, still the number one ranked team, are on an awful run. They have lost their past six completed T20Is, including a 3-0 defeat at home to Sri Lanka in October last year. Experience and new-comers come into the squad for the second day T20 in Lahore in six years in the quest to get out of the rut they are in.

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Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Out of the Bangladesh squad, only Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah have played a T20I in Pakistan.
• Tamim Iqbal averages just 14.55 in nine T20Is vs Pakistan. Mahmudullah fares worse, averaging 8.14 in 10 matches.
• Mohammad Hafeez returns to the Pakistan team. He is the second highest run-scorer in Pakistan-Bangladesh T20Is (193).
• Shoaib Malik, also in the Pakistan squad, has 150 runs and six wickets vs Bangladesh in eight games.
• Of course, who could forget Babar Azam? He scored two half-centuries in Pakistan’s poor showing in the T20Is in Australia. Also, he averages 50.17 after 36 T20Is.
• Mohammad Naim impressed for Bangladesh in their recent tour of India. The 20-year old scored 26, 38 and 81.
• All eyes will be on Haris Rauf. The BBL09 sensation, who took 16 wickets in seven games, will be keen to impress on Pakistan debut.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi took 6/35 in the 50-over World Cup vs Bangladesh. He enjoys this opponent.
• Mustafizur Rahman can be expensive at times, but given he bowls in the crunch overs, wickets are a possibility.

Head-to-Head

• Matches 10, Pakistan 8, Bangladesh 2.
• This will be the first T20 between the sides in Pakistan since 2008. Pakistan won that match by 102 runs in Karachi.
• Shoaib Malik scored 35 (18) and Tamim Iqbal scored 23 (17).

Possible Playing 11

Pakistan have made a host of changes, with Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail and Mohammad Amir (controversially) not in the squad.

Pakistan: 1. Ahsan Ali, 2. Babar Azam (c), 3. Mohammad Hafeez, 4. Shoaib Malik, 5. Iftikhar Ahmed, 6. Imad Wasim, 7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Haris Rauf, 10. Shaheen Afridi 11. Mohammad Hasnain

Bangladesh will be without the services of Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan. However, Tamim Iqbal is back, and has to deliver.

Bangladesh: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Mohammad Naim, 3. Afif Hossain, 4. Liton Das (wk), 5. Mahmudullah (c), 6. Soumya Sarkar, 7. Mahedi Hasan, 8. Aminul Islam, 9. Shafiul Islam, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Al-Amin Hossain

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Conditions

The Lahore track has a brown look and feel, which reportedly looks like a belter for batting. Sri Lanka scored 182 and 165 in their wins in Lahore in October 2019.

Also, the weather forecast looks good but cool, with a top of 17 degrees and no rain.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

Pakistan are on an awful run of form. However, Bangladesh are missing key players, and it remains to be seen how their bowlers cope on a good-looking batting pitch.

Pakistan to win.

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