Pakistan Has Its Work Cut Out For It, With Bangladesh Raring To Go

Pakistan will have their task cut out for them as they take on a spirited Bangladesh in their first WT20 game.

Pakistan Takes On A Formidable Bangladesh

Pakistan’s cricket team will have their task cut out for them as they take on a spirited Bangladesh in their opening World Twenty20 Group 2 contest at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Bangladesh topped their group in the qualifying round, beating the Netherlands and Oman. In their winning matches, a formidable Bangladesh was impressive in every department.

Netherlands proved to be formidable opponents, but Bangladesh persevered, and bagged the match by eight runs. In the match against Oman, Tamim Iqbal was unstoppable. The left-handed batsman blasted an unbeaten 63-ball 103, batting the opposition out of the match. Bangladesh won the game with 54 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Prior to the qualifiers, they had a brilliant outing in the Asia Cup. The ‘Tigers’ hunted down rivals Pakistan, before devouring Sri Lanka. India stopped Bangladesh’s rampage in the final, clinching it by eight wickets.

Bangladesh’s Batsmen are Raring to Go; Bowlers are Promising

In the bowling department, Bangladesh looks promising. The combination of pacers Taskin Ahmed and Al Amin Hossain and the experience of captain Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan will stand them in good stead.

Bangladesh has been missed pacer Mustafizur Rahman since the Asia Cup final because of an injury, but he is likely to make a comeback on Wednesday. The youngster will enjoy bowling on the Eden wicket, where he may just get enough purchase with his cutters and slower balls.

Captain Mashrafe Mortaza has said that the decision to play the young pacer rests with the team doctors and physios.

We can’t say he will be available or not. We still have 24 hours. The coaches and physios will decide and take the call tomorrow.

Mashrafe Mortaza

The batting side is raring to go, with Iqbal in hitting form. The side can take advantage of its big hitters, like Mahmudullah, who with a few massive sixes can turn a game around.

Will Mohammad Amir Meet Afridi’s Expectations?

Pakistan ought to be wary of Bangladesh’s strengths. The Shahid Afridi-led outfit might not have had the best of times in T20 cricket recently but the 2009 champions will know that the time ripe to silence their critics.

When the two teams last met in the Asia Cup, Pakistan were beaten by five wickets. Afridi and his men will be looking for vengeance. However, a lot hangs on how Pakistan’s bowlers fare on Eden’s flat surface.

If the fast bowling trio of Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz go in all guns blazing, Bangladesh may be in for a tough time.

Since Mohammad Amir’s return to international cricket after a five-year ban for spot fixing, the bowler has hit a purple patch and would be looking to carry it in this tournament and live up to his captain’s expectations.

We have great pace bowlers. With such quality, you are always in the game

Pakistan Coach Waqar Younis

Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, who bagged a four-wicket haul to fashion a win against Sri Lanka in a warm-up game on Monday might, could be the dark horse for Pakistan on Eden’s slow track.

The batting line-up, however, is an inexperienced one and veterans like Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez need to play responsibly in order to outdo Bangladesh.

It comes as a surprise to no one that tickets have sold like hot cakes. Regardless of whether India is playing, the stadium will be full; the Bangladesh-Pakistan encounter promises to be exciting.