Pakistan’s struggle in the shortest format persisted as they fell eight runs short in the second T20I, gifting Bangladesh their very first-ever T20I series victory over the Men in Green. Bangladesh now enjoy an unbeatable 2-0 margin in the three-match series, with a single game remaining to be played.
Batting Collapse Costs Pakistan Again
Pursuing a chaseable target of 134 at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, Pakistan were disintegrated under pressure and were bowled out for the mere score of 125 in 19.2 overs. The top-order completely collapsed within the powerplay, reducing Pakistan to shreds at 15/5.
The collapse started with Saim Ayub’s unfortunate run-out for 1, followed by a series of rapid wickets falling. Mohammad Haris (0), Fakhar Zaman (8), Hasan Nawaz (0), and Mohammad Nawaz (0) all went cheaply, as Shoriful Islam and Tanim Hasan Sakib wreaked havoc on Pakistan’s batting order.
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Skipper Fails To Anchor The Chase
Captain Salman Ali Agha couldn’t steady the innings, scoring merely 9 runs off 23 balls before getting out to Mahedi Hasan. His slow score put further pressure on an already sagging chase.
Faheem Ashraf Battles Alone
It was Faheem Ashraf who provided Pakistan with a glimmer of hope. Arriving at a fragile stage, he counter-attacked with a strong 51 from 32 balls, punctuated by four boundaries and four sixes. Together with Khushdil Shah (13), he attempted to mend the innings, but the fight soon ran out of steam. The innings disintegrated soon after Faheem’s departure, leaving Pakistan eight runs shy of the mark.
Back-to-Back Defeats Conclude Series For Bangladesh
This defeat follows on the heels of a seven-wicket defeat in the series-opener, where Bangladesh easily chased down Pakistan’s 111. Following that match, Pakistan’s white-ball coach Mike Hesson had pointed fingers at the pitch, alleging it was not “international standard.” But with two defeats in two games, now fingers are also being pointed at the composition and performance of the team.
Big Names Absent, Bigger Questions Looming
Pakistan’s T20I team has been revamped in recent times, and experienced players such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been excluded from the current lineup. This move is now under added pressure after the back-to-back losses against Bangladesh.
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Series Finale On July 24
With the series already won, the two sides will clash in the third and final T20I on Thursday, July 24. While Bangladesh will look to complete a whitewash, Pakistan will be keen to save some face and prevent a whitewash.
