Bangladesh vs Pakistan 2nd T20I on July 22

Bangladesh vs Pakistan 2nd T20I on July 22: Full Match Preview, Pitch Report, Player Stats & Probable XI

The cricketing world turns its attention to the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka as Bangladesh vs Pakistan 2nd T20I on July 22. Bangladesh currently holds a 1-0 lead of their three-match series, having comprehensively defeated Pakistan in the series opener. This match promises to be a thrilling encounter as Pakistan looks to bounce back and keep the series alive, while Bangladesh aims to clinch a historic series victory at home.

Let’s delve into a comprehensive analysis of the factors that could influence the outcome of this pivotal T20I.

All Players Recent Stats

Analyzing recent player form is crucial for understanding potential performances. Both teams feature a blend of experienced campaigners and exciting young talent, all of whom will be eager to make a mark.

Bangladesh Players

Bangladesh’s recent T20I performances have been impressive, particularly in their home conditions. Their top order has shown good form, and their bowlers have been consistently effective.

• Parvez Hossain Emon: The hero of the first T20I with an unbeaten 56, Emon has been in excellent touch. His ability to accelerate after a watchful start makes him a dangerous opener. In the recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25, he scored 338 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 130.00.
• Litton Das (Captain & Wicketkeeper): A vital cog in Bangladesh’s batting lineup, Litton is known for his aggressive yet elegant stroke play. He scored 368 runs in 11 BPL innings at a strike rate of 143.19 and will be key to providing strong starts. As captain, his leadership will be under the scanner.
• Towhid Hridoy: Hridoy played a crucial supporting role in the first T20I with a valuable 36. He was also a top performer in the BPL, scoring 312 runs in 13 innings. His ability to anchor the innings and find boundaries makes him a valuable middle-order batsman.
• Tanzid Hasan: While he had a low score in the first match, Tanzid has shown promise as an attacking opener. He scored 485 runs in 12 BPL innings at a strike rate of 141.40, indicating his destructive potential.
• Mahedi Hasan: An important all-rounder, Mahedi can contribute with both bat and ball. He picked up a wicket in the first T20I and has been economical. His BPL performance saw him score 355 runs and pick up crucial wickets.
• Rishad Hossain: The leg-spinner has been a revelation for Bangladesh, known for his wicket-taking ability and decent economy. He picked up a wicket in the first T20I.
• Taskin Ahmed: Taskin was outstanding in the first T20I, picking up 3 crucial wickets for just 22 runs. He has been in brilliant form, showcasing his swing and pace. He has 82 T20I wickets and his experience against Pakistan will be invaluable.
• Mustafizur Rahman: The “Fizz” was exceptionally economical in the first match, conceding only 6 runs in his four overs while picking up 2 wickets. His variations and cutters are tailor-made for these slow Dhaka pitches, making him a primary threat. He is currently ranked 18th in ICC T20I bowler rankings.
• Tanzim Hasan Sakib: A promising young fast bowler, Sakib picked up a wicket in the first T20I and has been reliable. He was among the leading wicket-takers in the recent T20I series against India.
• Mohammad Naim Sheikh: Although he hasn’t featured prominently in the initial matches, Naim had a strong BPL season with 511 runs in 14 innings, making him a potential option if the team needs to bolster its batting.

Pakistan Players

Pakistan’s batting unit struggled immensely in the first T20I, collapsing for a mere 110. They will be looking for a significant improvement from their key players. The absence of stalwarts like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi due to workload management or other reasons means a younger, less experienced squad is representing Pakistan.

• Fakhar Zaman: Fakhar was the lone warrior for Pakistan in the first T20I, top-scoring with 44 runs. His aggressive approach will be vital if Pakistan is to post a competitive total. He has a T20I average of 22.80.
• Saim Ayub: A dynamic young opener, Saim Ayub will be under pressure to perform after a low score in the first match. He has shown glimpses of his talent but needs to convert starts into substantial scores.
• Mohammad Haris (Wicketkeeper): Another explosive young batter, Haris needs to provide quick runs at the top. His quick dismissal in the first game highlighted the top-order vulnerability.
• Salman Ali Agha (Captain): As captain, Salman Ali Agha’s leadership will be crucial in rallying his team after the opening defeat. He scored a half-century in a recent T20I series against New Zealand and will be expected to lead from the front with the bat.
• Khushdil Shah: An experienced middle-order batsman and occasional spinner, Khushdil Shah needs to provide stability and power-hitting in the middle overs.
• Faheem Ashraf: A useful all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball. His medium-pace variations can be effective on slow pitches.
• Abbas Afridi: The pacer picked up a wicket in the first T20I and has shown promise with his variations. He will be crucial in leading the pace attack.
• Salman Mirza: The debutant pacer impressed in the first T20I, taking 2 early wickets to put Bangladesh under pressure. His left-arm pace could be an X-factor.
• Abrar Ahmed: The mystery spinner had a tough outing in the first match but has the ability to trouble batsmen with his variations. Spinners are expected to play a big role on this pitch.
• Mohammad Nawaz: The left-arm orthodox spinner and lower-order batsman can be a crucial asset. His control and ability to pick up wickets in the middle overs will be important.
• Haris Rauf: While he didn’t play the first T20I, if he is included, his express pace and variations could be a game-changer for Pakistan. He has a good T20I record and is ranked 20th in ICC T20I bowler rankings.

Pitch Condition

The second T20I, like the first, will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. The pitch here is notoriously slow and offers significant assistance to spinners.

• Slow and Turning: The pitch at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium is known for its slow nature, which makes stroke-play difficult, especially as the game progresses. It tends to grip and turn, bringing spinners heavily into play.
• Early Swing for Pacers: Fast bowlers might get some early swing and seam movement, particularly with the new ball, but their impact generally diminishes as the innings unfolds.
• Low-Scoring Encounters: The average first-innings score at this venue in T20Is is generally in the range of 139-140. The first T20I saw Pakistan bundled out for 110, which further confirms the challenging batting conditions. A score of 160-165 is considered a very strong total here.
• Toss Advantage: Given the nature of the pitch, winning the toss and batting first could be a significant advantage. It allows a team to put runs on the board and then let their spinners exploit the deteriorating surface under pressure in the chase. However, Bangladesh chased down the modest target of 111 comfortably in the first game, which might make captains reconsider. The humid conditions also suggest that bowling second could be taxing for the bowlers.
• Weather Forecast: The weather in Dhaka on July 22nd is expected to be hot and humid, with maximum temperatures around 33 degrees Celsius and minimums around 28 degrees Celsius. Humidity will be very high, which can lead to sweating and make conditions challenging for fielders and bowlers alike. While rain is always a possibility during this time of year, current forecasts suggest a clear evening for the match.

Matchups

Individual player matchups can often dictate the flow of a T20I match. Here are some key battles to watch out for:

• Bangladesh Openers (Parvez Hossain Emon & Tanzid Hasan) vs Pakistan Pace Attack (Salman Mirza & Abbas Afridi): Salman Mirza’s impressive debut saw him pick up early wickets, including Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das. The ability of Bangladesh’s openers to negate the new ball threat from Pakistan’s pacers, especially Salman Mirza’s left-arm angle, will be crucial.
• Fakhar Zaman vs Mustafizur Rahman/Taskin Ahmed: Fakhar Zaman was the only Pakistani batsman who looked comfortable in the first T20I. His battle against the precision and variations of Mustafizur and the pace of Taskin will be a highlight. Mustafizur’s cutters and Taskin’s ability to hurry batsmen could pose significant challenges for Fakhar.
• Pakistan Middle Order vs Bangladesh Spinners (Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain): Pakistan’s middle order collapsed against Bangladesh’s spin attack in the first match. The likes of Salman Ali Agha, Khushdil Shah, and Mohammad Nawaz will need to navigate the crafty off-spin of Mahedi Hasan and the leg-spin of Rishad Hossain effectively. Rishad’s ability to turn the ball big and pick up crucial wickets in the middle overs will be a critical factor.
• Litton Das vs Pakistan Spinners (Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz): Litton Das is known for his aggressive approach against spin. His duel with Pakistan’s spinners, particularly the mystery spin of Abrar Ahmed and the left-arm orthodox of Mohammad Nawaz, will be important. If Litton can get going, he can put the Pakistani bowlers under pressure.
• Power Hitters (Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain vs Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf): In a low-scoring game, the ability of power hitters to find boundaries and clear the ropes can be the difference. The battle between Bangladesh’s middle-order power-hitters like Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain against Pakistan’s all-rounders like Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf will be crucial in the death overs.

Probable 11

Predicting the exact playing XI in T20 cricket is always a challenge, especially with teams looking to adapt to conditions and respond to previous match performances. However, based on recent form, pitch conditions, and the first T20I, here are the likely playing elevens for both teams:

Bangladesh Probable XI

Bangladesh is likely to stick with a winning combination, with minor adjustments if any. Their bowling unit performed exceptionally well, and the batting, despite early jitters, chased down the target comfortably.

1. Parvez Hossain Emon
2. Tanzid Hasan
3. Litton Das (c & wk)
4. Towhid Hridoy
5. Shamim Hossain
6. Jaker Ali
7. Mahedi Hasan
8. Rishad Hossain
9. Tanzim Hasan Sakib
10. Taskin Ahmed
11. Mustafizur Rahman

Possible Change: Bangladesh might consider bringing in Mohammad Naim if they feel the need for more stability at the top, potentially at the expense of another batsman, but this is less likely given Emon’s performance. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, despite being a crucial player, was not in the XI for the first match due to recent form concerns, with Mahedi Hasan preferred. It remains to be seen if he makes a comeback.

Pakistan Probable XI

Pakistan will be under immense pressure to make changes and find a winning formula after their dismal batting performance. They might look to strengthen their batting or bring in more spin options given the pitch.

1. Saim Ayub
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Mohammad Haris (wk)
4. Hasan Nawaz
5. Salman Ali Agha (c)
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Abbas Afridi
9. Salman Mirza
10. Abrar Ahmed / Sufiyan Muqeem (Pakistan might opt for another left-arm spinner in Sufiyan Muqeem, given the nature of the pitch and Abrar’s performance in the last game).
11. Mohammad Nawaz (If Muqeem comes in, Nawaz might be the one to make way or vice versa, depending on the combination they prefer.)

Possible Changes: There’s speculation that Pakistan might include Sufiyan Muqeem, a left-arm spinner, to bolster their spin attack. This could be in place of either Mohammad Nawaz or Abrar Ahmed, depending on who the team management trusts more on this surface. They might also consider bringing in Hussain Talat for a middle-order batting option if they want to shuffle the pack further. The pressure is on the batting unit to perform, and we might see some tactical changes to address that.

The stage is set for an enthralling contest as Bangladesh eyes a series victory and Pakistan fights for survival. The pitch will undoubtedly play a significant role, and the team that adapts best to the conditions, coupled with individual brilliance, will likely emerge victorious.