The T20 action resumes as Bangladesh takes on Pakistan
in the 1st T20I of a three-match series on July 20, 2025, at the Shere
Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. This high-stakes contest not only
reignites a spirited rivalry but also serves as a crucial preparatory step for
the T20 World Cup 2026.
With Pakistan sweeping Bangladesh 3-0 earlier this year in
Lahore and Bangladesh recently securing a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Sri
Lanka, both teams are in the spotlight to assert their dominance in white-ball
cricket.
Match & Series Overview
- Match:
1st T20I – Pakistan vs Bangladesh
- Date:
Sunday, July 20, 2025
- Time:
5:30 PM IST / 6:00 PM local
- Venue:
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
- Series
Schedule: July 20, 22, and 24 – all matches at Dhaka
Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan looks to maintain
their recent dominance. On the other side, Litton Das aims to lead
Bangladesh to a comeback at home.
Head-to-Head Stats
- Total
T20Is Played: 22
- Pakistan
Wins: 19
- Bangladesh
Wins: 3
- Last
Meeting: June 2025—Pakistan won by 3-0 at home
Pakistan holds a clear psychological edge, but conditions in
Dhaka and recent Bangladesh form may level the contest.
Players to Watch
Bangladesh Best Picks
- Litton
Das (VC – Small Leagues): Top-order batter and wicketkeeper with the
ability to score big in powerplays.
- Towhid Hridoy: An in-form middle-order batter known for his calm under pressure
and late acceleration.
- Mahedi
Hasan: Off-spinner with match-winning spells in powerplay. Excellent
pick for spinning conditions.
- Rishad
Hossain (VC – Grand Leagues): Wrist-spinner who picks wickets at key
moments.
- Mustafizur
Rahman: Death-overs specialist, tough to score against due to his
slower balls.
Pakistan's Best Picks
- Saim
Ayub (C – H2H/Small Leagues): Explosive left-hander, great strike rate
in powerplay. Reliable captain pick.
- Fakhar
Zaman: Aggressive batter, capable of playing match-winning innings.
- Mohammad
Haris: Wicketkeeper-batter with an unbeaten 107* vs. Bangladesh
recently.
- Abrar Ahmed: A mystery spinner who can break partnerships and control the game
in middle overs.
- Mohammad
Abbas Afridi: Young pacer with excellent death-over variations.
Predicted Playing XIs
🇧🇩 Bangladesh XI:
Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (c & wk), Towhid Hridoy,
Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib,
Shoriful Islam, and Mustafizur Rahman.
🇵🇰 Pakistan XI:
Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (wk), Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz,
Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed,
Sufiyan Muqeem.
Weather & Pitch Report
- Weather:
94% chance of rain. Temperature: 33°C high / 27°C low. High humidity.
- Pitch:
Slower surface aiding spinners. Early seam movement is possible due to
overcast skies. Average first-innings score: 139. Par score: 160–165.
Pick a mix of spinners and death-over pacers. All-rounders
like Mahedi and Faheem add bonus value.
H2H / Small League Team
Wicketkeepers: Litton Das, Mohammad Haris
Batters: Saim Ayub (C), Towhid Hridoy, Fakhar Zaman
All-rounders: Mahedi Hasan, Faheem Ashraf
Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Abrar Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Abbas Afridi
Vice-Captain: Litton Das
Grand League Team
Wicketkeepers: Litton Das
Batters: Tanzid Hasan (C), Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan
All-rounders: Agha Salman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Khushdil Shah
Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Abrar Ahmed, Abbas Afridi, Shoriful Islam
Vice-Captain: Rishad Hossain
Pakistan are favourites due to superior squad depth and
head-to-head dominance. But with home advantage, Bangladesh could spring a
surprise if their spinners dominate early.
As the Bangladesh vs Pakistan T20 series kicks off, expect
high-voltage cricket under lights. With Dream11 fantasy points up for grabs and
potential weather interruptions, picking smart all-rounders and consistent
top-order batters could tilt the contest in your favour.
