Their arrival itself was mired in drama and a mercurial Pakistan would look to bring the focus back on their cricket when they take on an enigmatic Bangladesh in what promises to be an engrossing WT20 Super 10 Group 2 encounter on Wednesday. Pakistan arrived later than planned in India owing to security concerns of their Government.
The Pakistani players will take the field today, eyeing revenge for the humiliating loss to Bangladesh in the recent Asia Cup. But Bangladesh would be no pushovers as they are riding high after making the final of the continental event, which was won by India. Bangladesh stormed into the Super 10s after beating Oman by 54 runs by D/l method in their last qualifying match in Dharamsala.
left-handed Tamim Iqbal would lead the attack, while Bangladesh would hope that their left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman recovers from his side strain, which had ruled him out of the Asia Cup. Bangladesh could not have asked for more familiar territory — Kolkata.
The 2009 champions Pakistan, meanwhile, boast of arguably the most potent pace attack with the return of left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir, who has seamlessly integrated into the side after his spot-fixing ban. With Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz, the three left-arm quickies showed what they’re capable of in the Asia Cup.
Pakistan would bank on their bowlers do the job for them as batting is not the team’s strong point. Shahid Afridi’s men have had troubles with their top-order, prompting the selectors to twice tinker with the squad.
It is perhaps the last chance for Afridi, who has come under scanner due to his lack of form on the field and comments off it, to silence the critics with his bat and also chip in with his leg-spin.
It will a redemption time for Afridi, again.
SQUAD: Bangladesh:: Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Arafat Sunny, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Sabbir Rehman, Abu Hider, Nurul Hasan, Al-Amin Hossain, Nasir Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed, Mithun, Mustafizur Rahman.
pakistan: Shahid Afridi (c), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Mallik, Mohammad Irfan, Sharjeel Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Sami, Khalid latif, Mohammad Amir, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Khurram Manzoor.