Bangladesh Secures First T20I Series Victory Against Pakistan

DHAKA: Following an eight-run defeat to Bangladesh in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday, Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, pointed out areas needing enhancement.

Bangladesh, after being put in to bat, managed to score 133 before being bowled out in their allotted 20 overs, largely due to a courageous half-century from wicketkeeper Jaker Ali.

For Pakistan, Ahmed Daniyal, making his debut, alongside Salman Mirza and Abbas Afridi, each claimed two wickets. Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf supported with one wicket each.

In pursuit of a target of 134, Pakistan faced an early setback, plummeting to 15/5 during the batting powerplay.

The failure of their top and middle order ultimately dictated the outcome, as they fell short by just eight runs, despite a spirited half-century from Faheem Ashraf, who scored a team-high 51 off 32 balls, including four boundaries and a six.

Shoriful Islam emerged as the key bowler for the host team, securing three wickets for a mere 17 runs in his spell of four overs. His performance was crucial in guiding Bangladesh to their historic first-ever T20I series win against Pakistan.

Reflecting on their successive defeat, Captain Agha lamented their inability to restrict Bangladesh to a score 10 runs fewer. He conceded that the total was still within reach, and could have been chased if they had performed better during the powerplay.

“Our bowling start in the power play could have been better; we might have conceded 10 fewer runs. However, that’s part of the game,” Agha commented during the post-match presentation.

“We believed 130 was a manageable target, but our batting performance in the power play needs improvement,” he added.

The captain also commended the young players Daniyal and Salman for their economical bowling displays. He further praised Daniyal’s batting cameo on debut, identifying them as valuable future prospects for the national cricket team.

“Both demonstrated strong bowling skills. Salman has bowled consistently well in both matches, and Daniyal delivered an outstanding performance in this game. His batting nearly turned the game in our favor. They are definitely players for the future,” Agha remarked.

He further stated, “Our top-order needs to perform better, which is an area we need to address. Recovering from 15-5 to bring the game to such a close finish is remarkable.”

Despite finding themselves at 15/5 during the batting powerplay, Pakistan remained competitive until the last ball of the penultimate over. Faheem’s aggressive counter-attack against the Bangladesh bowlers, resulting in a defiant half-century, greatly impressed Captain Agha.

“Faheem’s batting was exceptional; he nearly turned the game around. That’s the unpredictable nature of cricket. Credit to him for his outstanding innings,” Agha said, acknowledging Faheem’s efforts.

Salman Ali Agha further commented on the thrilling final over, emphasizing that such matches demonstrate his team’s resilient attitude. He praised his teammates for their fighting spirit, despite facing early setbacks in the run chase.

“As a team, we never give up. This is the mentality we are instilling in the team. Regardless of the situation, we believe we can win,” Agha stated.

“That belief is now ingrained in our team. The way we fought back after being 15-5 was exceptional. This is the kind of conviction I want from my team. It was a thrilling match, undoubtedly worth watching,” he concluded.