Litton Das and Salman Agha met the press in Dhaka on Saturday, each trying to sound relaxed about a ground that rarely offers any. Both captains know what the Shere Bangla surface can do—turn square, stop, skid, or, less often, stay true—and how quickly plans have to change once the first ball is bowled.
Recent numbers explain their caution. In the last ten night T20Is here, the average first-innings score is under 125. Those matches include the 2021 campaigns against Australia and New Zealand, when sharply turning tracks helped Bangladesh win 4-1 and 3-2. Litton, now leading Bangladesh’s T20 side, never enjoyed those games with the bat.
“I agree that the (2021 series) had an adverse effect on our batters,” he said. “Even I could have built up a career as a bowler in those pitches. It was a tough time for the batters although Bangladesh won both series. I don’t think there will be a repeat this time. I saw a good wicket. It will be an even game.”
Pakistan arrive with happier memories. Back in May and June they swept Bangladesh 3-0, twice posting 200-plus and then reeling in 197 with 17 balls to spare. Head coach Mike Hesson and captain Agha have kept the same template: attack early, keep going.
“We have changed the way we play, and that’s how we want to play,” Agha said. “But assessing the conditions is always going to be key. We will see what the conditions are and how we want to play. If the conditions allow us to play that way, we will play, and if the conditions don’t allow us to play that way, we will try to do what the conditions are allowing us. Our goal is to score above par, like 10-15 runs, and when we are batting above par and then when we are bowling, to make sure we will restrict the teams less than over par.
“T20 is changing every single year, every six months, to be honest. We have the players now who will play the way we want. We want to play aggressive cricket, and with that, anyone can play that kind of cricket and can come into the team. But yeah, the players we have right now, they are very good, and very exciting.”
Pakistan skipped training on match-eve, preferring rest after a busy travel day. Bangladesh ran an optional session that turned into a lengthy reconnaissance mission for their skipper. Litton spent a good quarter-hour in conversation with curator Gamini Silva, then walked the strip twice more before heading to the nets.
“Mirpur isn’t always bad for batters,” he insisted. “It was just troubling for batters in two particular series (against Australia and New Zealand in 2021). The ball spins here, there’s help for pacers. But there’s also runs being scored. I think it’s a sporting wicket.”
That optimism contrasts with his words after last week’s third T20I in Colombo. “I don’t know how the Mirpur wicket is going to be behave, for the Pakistan series,” he admitted then. “I think it is raining in Dhaka every day, so wicket can be difficult for batting in such conditions.” The forecast still shows afternoon storms, but both boards have kept the 1800 start time.
Bangladesh are likely to keep their established top three and rely on spin through the middle overs, though there is quiet talk of giving right-arm quick Tanzim Hasan a debut. Pakistan’s XI appears settled; their only call is whether to include an extra spinner or persist with three seamers.
Former Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha, asked on local TV to predict the pitch, smiled. “Mirpur gives you everything in one day—sun, drizzle, grip, skid,” he said. “The clever sides survive the first twelve balls, then take it from there.”
Both captains used similar language—“fearless” for Agha, “sporting” for Litton—but know that at Mirpur, bravery and caution often share an over. The first answers come on Sunday night.
