Bangladesh meet Pakistan in derby of subcontinental distress

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This is as a lot a distress derby as it’s a subcontinental one. But for England’s doomed title defence, Bangladesh and Pakistan are the 2 sides on the backside of the shape desk, having mixed to lose their final 9 matches on this competitors. In a sequence of occasions that has develop into wearily predictable, off-field drama has overshadowed the dearth of on-field accomplishment. Shakib Al Hasan bizarrely flew again dwelling to Bangladesh to work on his batting approach after their recreation in opposition to South Africa, whereas in Pakistan, accusations of unpaid salaries, participant energy, and PCB incompetence and malfeasance have already relegated World Cup performances to a sideshow.

While Pakistan try to delay going again dwelling for no less than another recreation, all Bangladesh have left is to aim to ebook a flight to Pakistan in 2025. The ICC’s shock late announcement that the highest eight finishers at this World Cup would safe qualification to the 2025 Champions Trophy means Bangladesh have one thing to combat for after their 87-run defeat to the Netherlands formally made them the primary facet to be knocked out of semi-finals rivalry. New Zealand’s slender defeat to Australia, in the meantime, has opened a tiny window of alternative for Pakistan to nonetheless sneak by in traditionally Pakistan-esque circumstances, offered they win their remaining video games and New Zealand lose theirs.

Neither of those sides, although, has earned the fitting to be speaking in regards to the semi-finals. Bangladesh’s marketing campaign started with vivid optimism after a good Asia Cup exhibiting by which they completed third, and adopted it up with a thumping win over Sri Lanka in a warm-up recreation. A half-decent opening recreation in opposition to England was backed up by a trouncing of Afghanistan, which, given the latter’s latest type, seems a way more spectacular exhibiting now than it was then given credit score for. But they’ve crumbled spectacularly since, by no means coming near victory in any of their final 5 video games, that limp defeat to the Dutch the nadir.

Pakistan are nonetheless consuming from that poisonous concoction of hope and the specter of recriminations. Two wins to start out off papered over some cracks, paper that India, Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa ripped aside to reveal the barrenness of the construction they had been constructing on. Injuries and a mystifying collective lack of type has meant this staff is unrecognisable from the one which was ranked primary on this format simply six weeks in the past.

With Babar Azam underneath strain for his captaincy and dysfunction on the cricket board again dwelling, Pakistan will need little greater than to place off getting into the ring of fireside they’re going to step into after they return dwelling. And in opposition to Bangladesh, they’ve the chance to place in a efficiency that may allow them to maintain dreaming. At the second, it appears to be all they’ve.

Form information

Bangladesh LLLLL (final 5 accomplished ODIs, most up-to-date first)
Pakistan LLLLW

In the highlight

Shakib Al Hasan hasn’t had a World Cup marketing campaign value speaking about however due to who he’s, and what he has finished in his 17-year profession, he’s all the time within the highlight. Particularly within the final week after he hopped over to Dhaka for 2 batting periods along with his childhood mentor. While it might be uncommon, Shakib has finished this earlier than, but it surely has come again to chunk him after Bangladesh’s loss to the Netherlands. He has confronted as much as the media twice in three days, and stated on Tuesday he was all about taking motion. Now we now have to attend for him to do exactly that.

It is maybe no coincidence that Mohammad Rizwan‘s success with the bat aligns along with his facet’s. Over their first two video games, by which their keeper transformed begins into scores of 68 and 131*, Pakistan put 4 factors on the board. But ever since, what has extra usually been a Pakistani batting drawback has additionally been a Rizwan drawback. Rizwan, like a lot of Pakistan’s center order, has obtained himself in and, earlier than any actual harm might be finished, obtained himself out. It has typically been right down to poor shot choice within the final 4 video games – every of which Pakistan have misplaced. Dismissals at 49, 46 and 31 in opposition to India, Australia and South Africa value his facet of momentum at key junctures. When Rizwan goes deep, Pakistan are likely to do nicely, which might be misplaced on neither him nor the opposition.

Team news

Fakhar Zaman is totally match, and given Imam-ul-Haq’s struggles may discover himself introduced one other alternative. Shadab Khan couldn’t bowl in opposition to South Africa owing to concussion, and isn’t anticipated to be match sufficient to play, giving Usama Mir one other alternative. Mohammad Nawaz’s troubles with the ball means a batting allrounder in Salman Ali Agha will change him.

Pakistan: 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq/Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Salman Ali Agha, 8 Usama Mir, 9 Mohammad Wasim/Hasan Ali, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris Rauf.

Bangladesh had a minor scare throughout coaching when Shakib walked off whereas batting with obvious neck ache. However he obtained remedy, obtained some strapping on, and got here again to bat with out a lot discomfort.

Bangladesh (attainable): 1 Litton Das, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Shoriful Islam.

Pitch and circumstances

The climate is predicted to be vivid and sunny, and on the hotter facet. While there is no such thing as a details about the pitch but, it is the identical venue the place a low-scoring recreation performed out between Netherlands and Bangladesh on Saturday.

Stats and trivia