Pakistan Dominate Bangladesh in T20I Opener with Stellar Shows from Hasan, Shadab, and Salman
- Abeera Marium Siddiqui
- May 29, 2025
- 5:47 pm
- 40
- Sports
In the much-anticipated Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20 series opener at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan outclassed the visitors with an all-round performance. They posted a strong total of 201-7 before bowling out Bangladesh for 164, sealing a convincing 37-run win. Hasan Ali starred with the ball, taking five wickets, while Shadab Khan and skipper Salman Ali Agha dazzled with the bat and ball.
The game began with high expectations as Pakistan elected to bat. However, they suffered a shaky start. Saim Ayub fell first ball, offering a return catch to Mahedi Hasan. Fakhar Zaman followed in the next over, trapped lbw by Shoriful Islam. At 5-2, Pakistan fans grew tense.
Mohammad Haris turned the tide with three quick boundaries off Shoriful in the fourth over. He scored a brisk 31 off 18 balls before falling to Tanzim Hasan. At the other end, Salman remained solid. He punished Mahedi with back-to-back boundaries and drove Tanzim for four more to maintain pressure. Salman reached his half-century in just 29 balls and formed a crucial 65-run stand with Hasan Nawaz.
Hasan Nawaz continued the counter-attack. He smashed two fours and four sixes in his 22-ball 44. The partnership pushed Pakistan to 118 before both set batters fell in quick succession. Despite the setback, Shadab Khan came in and kept the scoreboard ticking. He hammered two sixes and five fours in his explosive 48 off 25 balls. His death-over blitz pushed Pakistan past 200.
Bangladesh’s response in the Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20 clash started poorly. Hasan Ali removed both openers, Parvez Hossain and Tanzid Hasan, early in the powerplay. Tanzid showed promise with 31 off 17, including two fours and three sixes, but Hasan’s knuckle ball castled him.
Bangladesh’s middle order showed brief resistance. Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy added 63 for the third wicket. However, Hridoy struggled to rotate strike and managed just 17 off 22 balls. Litton tried to lift the tempo with three sixes, including two off Haris Rauf. But Shadab ended his innings on 48 with a sharp catch at backward point.
After Litton’s dismissal, Bangladesh collapsed. Khushdil Shah trapped Hridoy lbw. Salman stumped Shamim Hossain with a smart off-break. Shadab grabbed his second by catching Rishad off his own bowling. Hasan Ali returned to clean up the lower order. He bounced out Jaker Ali for 36, dismissed Tanzim with a return catch, and finished with 5 for 30.
The Pakistan bowlers stayed sharp in the field. Faheem Ashraf chipped in by removing Mahedi Hasan, while Shoriful Islam became Hasan’s fifth and final wicket. Bangladesh were all out for 164 in 19.2 overs.
With this win in the Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20 series, Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the three-match contest. Player of the Match went to Shadab Khan for his crucial all-round performance.
