DHAKA
\nA new-look Pakistan face an unusual do-or-die situation on Friday in the second One-day International against Bangladesh who stunned the tourists in the opening match of the three-match series.
\nFast bowler Nahid Rana, 23, starred with a career-best show of 5-24 as Bangladesh demolished the Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Pakistan in the opening ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.
\nShaheen has backed his young team to make a comeback despite the eight-wicket drubbing in the series opener, and will definitely be eyeing to level the series at the same venue today.
\nPakistan are featuring in an ODI series in Bangladesh after a long gap of 11 years. The last time when Pakistan played a 50-over rubber in Bangladesh under the captaincy of Azhar Ali, they suffered a 3-0 sweep.
\nWith ample time left before the ICC 2027 World Cup is staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia during October-November, Pakistan, which have struggled in ICC events since their 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, will certainly look to develop a side that can face top-tier opponents in the ODI showpiece. The current Bangladesh series is only the starting point of that build-up campaign.
\nFour Pakistan players \u2014 Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain \u2014 made their ODI debut on Wednesday after the tourists dropped experienced pros like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan and aggressive opener Saim Ayub for the series. Other than Fakhar, the remaining three players flopped in the T20 World Cup held in India and Sri Lanka during February-March.
\nBut the move to include the youngsters did not work at all for Pakistan, at least in the opening game, as they were shot out for a paltry 114 \u2013 their lowest-ever ODI total against Bangladesh \u2014 with 19.2 overs to spare.
\nThe hosts completed the modest chase without any fuss in just 15.1 overs as opener Tanzid Hasan smashed a 42-ball 67 not out.
\nThe worrying factor for Pakistan is that their batting crumbled against Rana who, before Wednesday\u2019s game, had claimed just five wickets in his very short career comprising five ODIs.
\nMoreover, in the bowling department, Pakistan\u2019s pace trio comprising Shaheen, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Wasim failed to make any impact as they looked to defend a scanty total.
\nOn the other hand, Bangladesh will be looking to seal the series on Friday before the last game.
\nWhile the hosts\u2019 bowling showcased their promise in the opener, their batters may well be tested fully today after chasing a modest 115.
\nThough Pakistan hold a clear edge in the head-to-head ODI record against Bangladesh \u2013 with 34 wins and six losses \u2013 the pumped-up hosts under Mehidy Hasan Miraz will certainly be looking to improve that record when they take the field at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DHAKA A new-look Pakistan face an unusual do-or-die situation on Friday in the second One-day International against Bangladesh who stunned the tourists in the opening match of the three-match series. Fast bowler Nahid Rana, 23, starred with a career-best show of 5-24 as Bangladesh demolished the Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Pakistan in the opening ODI at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":536509,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-536477","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n