After a heavy defeat in the first match, Bangladesh will face Pakistan again, trying to keep the series alive.
When the series began on Wednesday, Faruque Ahmed was the BCB president. By the time the second game kicks off on Friday, Aminul Islam Bulbul could be the new president. While this leadership shuffle might not directly impact the Pakistan-Bangladesh series, it clearly reflects that “on-field cricket” isn’t dominating the spotlight in Bangladesh at the moment — the real action seems to be happening off the field.
Debates and controversies around the BCB leadership have taken over the headlines and may continue to do so in the coming days. That noise might fade a little if the Bangladesh team can deliver something remarkable on the field — a challenge now firmly in front of Liton Das and his squad.
After a 37-run loss in the first T20I, Bangladesh must win the second match to stay in the series. The match begins at 9 PM Bangladesh time in Lahore.
That same night after the opening defeat, BCB president Faruque Ahmed reportedly had a meeting with the Youth and Sports Advisor. What followed was a chain of events — calls for leadership change, a vote of no confidence by board members, and withdrawal of nomination by the National Sports Council. As a result, Aminul Islam Bulbul could take charge as the new BCB president by Friday afternoon.
Of course, none of this changes the immediate reality on the field. Bangladesh faces another tough test. After a disappointing series loss in the UAE, this series is a chance to regain some lost ground. Before the series began, coach Phil Simmons said the team’s morale was still high, and Liton Das promised a renewed spirit. But on the field, it was the same old Bangladesh.
Though the bowlers started well by picking up two early wickets within the first two overs, they couldn’t maintain the pressure. Pakistan’s batters counter-attacked, and despite just one player reaching fifty, they still posted a score beyond 200.
Other than part-time spinner Shamim Hossain, none of the bowlers met expectations. The biggest letdown was leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, who conceded 55 runs in four overs. After the match, spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed backed him, saying, “I believe Rishad is a true match-winner, and I expect him to bounce back quickly.”
The pitch was favorable for batting, and the target wasn’t entirely out of reach. But Bangladesh’s chase lacked structure. The same old issues resurfaced. Tanzid Hasan threw away a flying start. Captain Liton gave his wicket away after looking settled. Parvez Hossain couldn’t stay at the crease, and Towhid Hridoy never found rhythm. Jaker Ali tried to hold the innings late on, but by then the match was gone.
Since the UAE series, Bangladesh has struggled with a stable middle-order batter who can anchor the innings. The squad still lacks a clear solution, though Mehidy Hasan Miraz may take on that responsibility in the second match.
Fielding has also been subpar. After the previous match, even the captain admitted that improvement was necessary.
Pakistan, meanwhile, is looking to establish a new brand of cricket under head coach Mike Hesson. They want to play “ultra-aggressive, modern-day cricket,” as repeatedly emphasized by captain Salman Ali Agha and the team management. That intent was evident in the first game — they absorbed early pressure and responded with attacking shots. All their batters played with purpose and intensity.
Expect them to stick to the same game plan again.
In head-to-head T20I encounters, Pakistan leads with 17 wins to Bangladesh’s 3. Bangladesh has never beaten Pakistan in Pakistan in four attempts. That’s the backdrop for this must-win clash.
