After clinching the T20I series in the first two games, Bangladesh crashed to a convincing 74-run loss at the hands of Pakistan to hand them a morale-boosting consolation win. While Bangladesh made multiple changes to test their bench strength, there were still areas that cropped up and needs addressing in order to be a better side. They will still be happy with the series win but must address the issues ahead of marquee tournaments coming their way.
Top order crumbling away in powerplay in run-chase hurts Bangladesh
Chasing 179 was always going to be a tough ask in Mirpur, but one expected Bangladesh to make a match out of it. But the total batting order failed as a unit and crumbled under pressure. They lost wickets from the get go and lost them at regular intervals. The Tigers lost 5 wickets in the powerplay itself to be reduced to 25/5 in 4.4 overs and the powerplay score was 29/5. It is very difficult to recover from this position in any chase let alone a 179 chase.
The wickets kept on tumbling in the next phase as well and had it not been for Saifuddin’s 35 off 34 balls, Bangladesh would not have crossed the 100-run mark which they did but only just. They were 81/9 as well. So, total batting failure started in the powerplay really hurt Bangladesh a lot. They could never really recover from these jolts.
Even in the second match, Bangladesh lost early wickets and were 4 down in the powerplay. Though they won that match, there was no hiding from this position. This has also become a pattern since they lost early wickets in Sri Lanka as well. Going forward to big marquee tournaments, Bangladesh cannot have collapses like as it will endanger their progress in those tournaments. They need to fight and fight well as a unit to do well.
Inability to take any wicket in the powerplay pegs Bangladesh back
While Bangladesh lost wickets like nine pins, they couldn’t do the same to Pakistan when they had opted to chase. Pakistan new-look combination of Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub came all guns blazing with Farhan being the main aggressor. Farhan made 63 off 41 balls laced with 6 fours and 5 sixes while Ayub made 21 off 15 balls with 2 fours and a six. The duo scored 57 runs in the powerplay and were separated only after 7.5 overs when Ayub got out and score was already 82 on the board.
The powerplay made the difference in both the innings. Pakistan had the platform to go big while Bangladesh had no base and the pressure of asking rate and everything got to them. The hosts were a little sloppy on the field dropping a catch here and there and it seemed that Bangladesh were not quite switched on for the action. Yes, their bowlers did well towards the end to keep Pakistan to 178 as 200 looked a possibility when the openers were batting. But it was a bridge too far in the end.
Going forward, Bangladesh needs to have the cutting edge and do well with the ball and get early wickets to put pressure on the opposition. Bangladesh did that in the first two games and got success as wickets in the powerplay restricted Pakistan. But in this dead rubber, the bowlers were not up for it and hence gave away the early initiative to the visitors.
Instable batting order derails Bangladesh’s plan
Since, Bangladesh made wholesale changes with the main guys sitting out, it meant their batting order will be put in disarray and that is exactly what happened. The openers and Number 3 were batting at the right position. What surprised some people was the batting position and role of Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Miraz bowled only one over in the first innings and then came out to bat at 4 only to score 10 and walk back to the hut.
People get confused what is Mehidy’s position as he has batted in numerous positions in the past. He is supposed to be the bowling all-rounder batting at Number 7 or 8. But in the third match, it seemed he was a batting all-rounder batting at 4 ahead of the form batter from previous games Jaker Ali. Jaker could have batted at 4. Plus, Mahedi Hasan coming ahead of Shamim Hossain made no sense as Shamim is the better batter and hitter of the ball. So, batting order malfunctioning in the third T20I affected Bangladesh.
If Litton Das the captain aspires Bangladesh to be world beaters and champions material team, then they have to make sure that they do not make errors like batting order or collapses because these errors could cost Bangladesh in the multi-nation events. Bilateral series wins and trying out things in a dead rubber is fine provided the major blunders are avoided.
What Lies Ahead
So, the Bangladesh vs Pakistan series is over with the hosts taking the series 2-1 despite losing the last game. Bangladesh currently have no games on schedule as their series against India in August was postponed till 2026 September. Pakistan, on the other hand, will go to West Indies to play in 6 white ball games in T20Is and ODIS starting on August 1st in India.
It will be interesting to see whether Pakistan can bounce back from this series defeat against Bangladesh and roar back against West Indies who themselves are struggling against Australia down 0-2 with 3 games to play in that series. It will be an intriguing series and a lot to look forward to for both teams looking to bounce back from defeats.
Also Read: BAN vs PAK: 3 Reasons For Pakistan’s Nerve-Wracking Defeat in 2nd T20I