PAK vs BAN Match Prediction & Analysis
The group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy is reaching the conclusion with the final two from Group A already being decided. With India and New Zealand qualifying for the semis, the two teams including the hosts Pakistan will be playing their last game against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on 27th February from 2:30 pm onwards.
Pakistan were thrown out of the tournament after their loss against India in the final game. Batting first, Pakistan managed to score 241 runs. Saud Shakeel fought the battle scoring 62 runs. India then managed to chase the target with the help of Virat Kohli’s century. The second consecutive loss in the group stage shattered Pakistan’s hopes to qualify for the semis.
Bangladesh played their last game against New Zealand at the same venue. Batting first, Bangladesh scored 236 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 77 runs in the top order. New Zealand beat them by 5 wickets after Rachin Ravindra scored a century in the middle. Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana picked up a wicket each for Bangladesh.
Both teams played their last game against each other in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Bangladesh were bowled out to 204 runs after Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up three wickets for 23 runs in 9 overs. Mahmadullah scored a half-century for Bangladesh. Abdullah Shafiq and Fakhar Zaman scored 128 runs as openers to help Pakistan win the game by 6 wickets. Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up three wickets for Bangladesh.TEAMS PREVIEW
Pakistan Preview
With the chances of qualifying for the semis are over, Pakistan will open the innings with Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam. Azam has 1293 runs in the 32 ODIs played since the last two years at an average of 44 with two centuries and eleven half-centuries. He will be the batter to watch out for though his average against Bangladesh is 30. Imam has played 17 games in the last two years scoring 606 runs with 6 half-centuries. Saud Shakeel will come at number three. Shakeel scored 62 runs in the last game against India.
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan will come in the middle with Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, and Khushdil Shah. Rizwan has been Pakistan’s leading run-scorer for the last two years with 1325 runs at an average of 57.60 including two centuries and 7 half-centuries. Salman Agha has an average of 60 and a strike rate of 105 – the highest among the pak batters in the last 10 ODIs. Khushdil Shah has scored 107 runs in the two games of the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan bowlers have failed to produce any outcome in the first two games. They have managed to take nine wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi will be the bowler to watch out for. He has 65 wickets in the 32 ODIs played in the last two years. Haris Rauf will be another bowler to watch out for. He has 55 wickets in the last two years. Against Bangladesh, Rauf has taken 6 wickets in two games. Abrar Ahmed will be part of the playing eleven. He has 15 wickets in the last 9 games with an economy of 4.7.
Key Players: Babar Azam, Mohammed Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:
Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.Bangladesh Preview
Bangladesh is going through a poor form in the limited-overs format. They have lost 11 of the last 15 ODIs. All eyes will be on Najmal Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraj, and Taskin Ahmed to perform well in the last game. Shanto will open for Bangladesh with Tanzid Hasan. He has 414 runs in the last 8 ODIs at an average of 59. He will be the batter to watch out for. Miraj will come at number three if Soumya Sarkar doesn’t play. He has 323 runs in the last 10 ODIs for Bangladesh.
Towhid Hridoy will come in the middle with Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, and Jaker Ali. Hridoy has 984 runs in the last 31 innings since 2023 including a ton against India in the first game of the ongoing Champions Trophy. Mushfiqur Rahim has averaged 37 in the last two years. Mahmdullah is one of the only third player in the current squad who has an average above 40. All eyes will be on Jaker Ali who has been the most consistent. Ali has 264 runs in the last 7 games at an average of 52 – the highest among the Bangladeshi players.
Taskin Ahmed will lead the bowling attack with Mustafizur Rahman and Miraz. Ahmed picked up 16 wickets in the last 9 games. He was their leading wicket-taker in 2024. Rahman played four games last year in which he took 10 wickets at an average of 18. Against Pakistan, he has 9 wickets in three games. He will be the bowler to watch out for. Miraz will have a huge responsibility on his shoulders. The spinner took 9 wickets in the last 10 games.Bangladesh Predicted Playing XI:
Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman.Weather Conditions
The weather at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi is expected to be cloudy on match day, with temperatures ranging between 12 and 19 degrees Celsius. The rain is expected. Winds will blow from the southeast at 8-19 km/h. It gives a good balance for both bowlers and batsmen. Bowlers can benefit from the pitch in the early stages, which offers a nice bounce. As the game goes on and the pitch gets older, batsmen can play their shots comfortably.
PAK vs BAN Pitch Report
Rawalpindi Stadium, Rawalpindi Pitch Report
Pitch ConditionBalanced
Batting ConditionsHigh Scoring
Pace BowlingPace Bounce
Spin BowlingAverage Turn
The game will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on 27th February from 2:30 pm onwards. The stadium has a capacity of 15000 spectators. The stadium has hosted 16 Tests, 27 ODIs, and 8 T20s.