Pakistan’s game plan for the T20I series in Dhaka is simple: attack, but be smart about it. Captain Agha Salman insisted the team won’t back down from the aggressive, high-scoring style that has become their new identity.
He wasn’t sugarcoating things. “If the pitch lets us stick to our style, great,” he said. “If not, we’re flexible enough to change it up.”
Pakistan dominated a previous series against Bangladesh in May and June, winning 3-0. They posted totals above 200 in the first two games and chased 197 in the third with nearly three overs left.
Conditions in Focus
That level of scoring might not be easy to repeat in Dhaka. In the last ten night T20Is played there, the average first-innings total has been below 125. The trend dates back to 2021 when Bangladesh prepared spin-friendly tracks for series against Australia and New Zealand. Those series ended in Bangladesh’s favor, but drew criticism for suppressing batting potential.
Bangladesh’s current T20I captain Litton Das said the team wants to move past those extreme conditions.
“Even I could have built up a career as a bowler in those pitches,” he said, reflecting on the 2021 series. “It was a tough time for batters although Bangladesh won both series. I don’t think there will be a repeat this time. I saw a good wicket. It will be an even game.”
Mixed Signals from the Surface
Ahead of the opening game, Litton took time to inspect the pitch alongside curator Gamini Silva. His view was cautiously optimistic.
“Mirpur isn’t always bad for batters,” he said. “The ball spins here, there’s help for pacers. But there’s also runs being scored. I think it’s a sporting wicket.”
He had earlier voiced some doubts after the team’s tour of Sri Lanka, citing concerns about the impact of rain on Dhaka’s surface. “I think it is raining in Dhaka every day, so wicket can be difficult for batting in such conditions,” he said last week. “Batters may fail there, but we won’t be too disappointed. We will keep trying to give our 100%.”
Learning from the BPL
Litton also pointed to the Bangladesh Premier League as proof that Dhaka can produce good batting surfaces. In the last ten night matches during the Bangladesh Premier League, first-innings scores around 190 to 200 were not uncommon.
But he believes those high scores came with caveats. “There is always a chance of dew in one innings in the BPL. It makes batting easier. I also don’t think there are exactly five quality bowlers in a BPL bowling attack. We can target one or two bowlers. The international level is definitely different. We will face at least five good bowlers.”
Pakistan’s Evolving Game Plan
Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson and captain Agha are working to align with global T20 trends, which emphasize maximizing powerplay overs.
“Our goal is to score above par, like 10-15 runs,” Agha said. “And when we are bowling, to make sure we will restrict the teams less than over par.”
He also stressed the team’s roster now includes players who are suited for aggressive cricket. “T20 is changing every single year, every six months, to be honest. We have the players now who will play the way we want.”
While Pakistan skipped practice ahead of the opener, Bangladesh held a late optional session. The first match will be a test of which philosophy wins — Pakistan’s early aggression or Bangladesh’s measured approach.
Both teams appear confident, but only one will find the rhythm that suits the Shere Bangla pitch.
