Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss in Mirpur and, without much hesitation, put Pakistan in. “We’ve seen a bit of morning moisture here, so we’d like our quicks to use it,” he said at the presentation.
Miraz has gone with a three-man pace unit, recalling young right-armer Nahid Rana to operate alongside Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman. Tanzid Hasan comes in for Soumya Sarkar at the top, while Litton Das and Afif Hossain firm up the middle order.
Pakistan’s line-up is the talking point. For only the second time since 1980 they have named four debutants in the same ODI: opener Sahibzada Farhan, all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat, left-hand batter Shamyl Hussain and power-hitter Abdul Samad. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was plain about the decision. “We’re touring to broaden the pool,” he said. “If lads are scoring runs and taking wickets at home, they deserve a go.” Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed is the sole specialist slow bowler, with Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Wasim bolstering the seam attack.
Playing XIs
Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (wk), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman.
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Mohammad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed.
Key point
Pakistan’s willingness to blood four rookies suggests an eye on long-term depth rather than short-term safety. Whether that gamble pays off on a surface that usually slows as the day progresses is the thread to follow through this series opener.
