1st T20I Match Prediction: Bangladesh Versus Pakistan. Who Will Win?

Straight off the back of the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh hosts Pakistan. This will be their first visit for six years where they will play three T20 international matches and two Test matches. Keep reading to find out our cricket match prediction of the first T20I match that kicks off Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh.

Previous History

Following very contrasting T20 World Cup fortunes, Pakistan are currently ranked third and Bangladesh ninth in the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings. Before the competition, Bangladesh were sixth following an impressive home T20I series wins against Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.

However, Bangladesh’s performance in the T20 World Cup was a huge disappointment for their supporters. Defeat to Scotland and wins against Oman and Papua New Guinea saw them qualify to the Super 12 stage, where they subsequently lost all five matches, and were bowled out twice for under 100 in their final two games against South Africa and Australia. So, what sort of showing can we expect from Bangladesh?

By contrast, Pakistan won all five group games. Pakistan were on course to win, until a impressive finish by Australia, scoring three successive 6’s in the 19th over to stun Pakistan, who perhaps, on a different day, would most likely have made the final. So, Pakistan is the in-form team.

Bangladesh Team Preview

The 16 player squad is unsurprisingly not without casualties after Bangladesh’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup. The main absence is the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim. Minhajul Abedin has advised that Mushfiqur has been rested ahead of back-to-back Test matches against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Also left out are Soumya Sarkar, Liton Kumar Das, and Rubel Hossain. With all-rounders Shaif Uddin and Shakib Al Hasan out due to a hamstring injury, Bangladesh only have captain Mohammad Mahmudullah as one of their more experienced cricketers left in the squad.

The youth-heavy squad includes first-timers for batsmen Saif Hassan and Yasir Ali Chowdhury, fast bowler Shohidul Islam and batsman wicketkeeper Akbar Ali, who was Bangladesh's captain when they won the Under-19 World Cup last year. Returning to the squad are batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto, and leg spinner Aminul Islam Biplob.

Pakistan Team Preview

Pakistan has named an 18-player squad for the three T20Is. The only change from the T20 World Cup is Mohammad Hafeez who, following discussions with Muhammad Wasim, has opted out to give younger batsmen opportunities to gain international experience. An in-form Iftikhar Ahmed has been added to the middle-order that also includes Haider Ali and Khushdil Shah.

Toss Prediction

Given Pakistan’s recent good performances when batting first, we expect Babar Azam to bat first if he wins the toss. If Mohammad Mahmudullah wins the toss he may prefer, given his changed team, to field to try to restrict Pakistan.

Pitch Conditions

As the game is starting at 14.00 local time and finishing around 17.00, with sunset at 17:15, the effect of any dew on playing conditions should be minimal.

Our Match Prediction

Pakistan has won ten of their previous 12 T20I encounters, with two wins to Bangladesh. Pakistan will not take Bangladesh lightly, but they are a strong team.

Of course, the most runs are crucial in T20 cricket. Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan finished the ICC T20 World Cup in first and third spot in the ‘most runs’ order with 303 and 281 respectively from their five matches. Significantly lower down the list are Bangladesh’s Mohammad Mahmudullah 169 (from 8 innings) and Mohammad Naim Sheikh 174 (from 7). Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are our clear favourites to contend for overall run maker of the series, which could be a market you are interested in for online cricket betting and you can find the best betting sites for cricket here.

Understandably, Bangladesh has made changes to their squad and Pakistan arrives with a confident team. Although Bangladesh have home advantage this first game is strongly expected to go to Pakistan. In T20 cricket you need a bit of luck, and Bangladesh certainly need a huge helping.