Bangladesh are touring Pakistan for a three-match T20I series starting May 28 - here's what their playing XI could look like.
Bangladesh squad for T20Is vs Pakistan
Litton Das (c & wk), Mahedi Hasan (vc), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Khaled Ahmed, Jaker Ali (wk), Parvez Hossain Emon (wk), Tanzid Hasan, Shamim Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rishad Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanvir Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
You can find more details on Bangladesh's squad, including injury news and updates here.
Batters
Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain
Emon recently became the second Bangladesh player after Tamim Iqbal to score a men's T20I hundred during the T20I series against the UAE. While his T20 career strike rate of 126 is not exceptional, his ceiling seems to be higher than former captain Najmul Hossain Shanto's as a T20 batter, which should see him edge the senior man for a place in the starting XI. Tanzid Hasan will partner him at the top.
Captain Litton Das is expected to shepherd the Bangladesh batting from No.3, while Towhid Hridoy has established himself at No.4. The next four slots - from No.5 to No.8 - can be occupied by any of Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, vice captain Mahedi Hasan, or Rishad Hossain.
Jaker has shown versatility in arresting collapses as well taking on the bowling when the situation demands, while Shamim and Rishad are the designated finishers who could be floated up the order if a suitable platform is available for them. Mahedi, with a T20I batting average of 12.20 and strike rate of 98.91, is the weakest link.
Spin all-rounders
Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain
Mahedi's primary role will be with the ball. His defensive off-spin is usually hard to score off, evident by his T20I economy rate of 6.73. Rishad will be the attacking spinner of the two. He already has 41 wickets from 31 T20Is.
Fast bowlers
Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam
Sakib has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years, developing into a reliable, skillful seam bowler for Bangladesh. He'll be one of the new-ball bowlers alongside left-arm seamer Shoriful. Hasan Mahmud, meanwhile, will be the primary death bowler. His T20I economy in the last four overs is a mere 7.01 from 13 innings.
Predicted playing XI
- Tanzid Hasan
- Parvez Hossain Emon
- Litton Das (c)
- Towhid Hridoy
- Mahedi Hasan (vc)
- Jaker Ali (wk)
- Shamim Hossain
- Rishad Hossain
- Tanzim Hasan Sakib
- Hasan Mahmud
- Shoriful Islam
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