CRICEKET
Bangladesh Bowlers Rock Pakistan Early in Asia Cup Clash
Bangladesh began their crucial Asia Cup encounter against Pakistan with an impressive bowling display as they push for a place in the final. The match, held in Dubai on Thursday, saw stand-in skipper Zakir Ali win the toss and choose to field in the absence of injured regular captain Liton Das.
The Tigers made three changes to their lineup, recalling pacer Taskin Ahmed, off-spinning all-rounder Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, and middle-order batter Nurul Hasan. Out went Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, and struggling opener Tanzid Hasan.
Taskin struck early in the very first over, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan. The wicket also marked Taskin’s 100th in T20 internationals, making him only the third Bangladeshi bowler to reach the milestone after Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman.
Sheikh Mehedi Hasan soon followed up with the wicket of Saim Ayub, who was caught attempting to clear mid-on. It was Ayub’s fourth duck in the tournament and the ninth of his T20I career.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain then joined the party, removing Fakhar Zaman for 13 with a catch at long-off.
After seven overs, Pakistan found themselves reeling at 29 for 3, with skipper Salman Ali Agha and Hussain Talat at the crease.
Desk news. Just Just weeks after their fiery Asia Cup encounter, India and Pakistan are set to face off once again — this time in the Women’s ODI World Cup. The highly anticipated match will be played in Colombo on Sunday (October 5) at 3:30 PM Bangladesh time.
India’s record against Pakistan in women’s cricket is overwhelmingly dominant. Out of 27 matches across formats, India has won 24, while Pakistan managed just three victories — all in T20s. In ODIs, India holds a perfect 11–0 record.
Pakistan’s main concern remains their inconsistent batting, which faltered in their previous match with frequent wicket losses. Though Fatima Sana and Diana Baig bowled impressively, the rest of the attack failed to provide adequate support.
Playing again at the same Colombo venue could benefit Pakistan, while India, who haven’t played there for some time, might find the conditions challenging.
Interestingly, India’s women’s team did not shake hands with Pakistan’s players during their three Asia Cup games, and a similar situation is expected in this World Cup clash.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur said,
“We grew up watching India-Pakistan matches, but we treat every game the same. Our focus is on cricket.”
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana added,
“We try to maintain good relations with all teams and will play in the true spirit of the game.”
The match will be broadcast live on T Sports and Star Sports 1.
India clinched the Asia Cup title in a dramatic final against Pakistan, chasing down a target of 147 runs in 19.4 overs at Dubai on Sunday night (28 September). Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian side secured victory in the last over of the match.
Tilak Varma emerged as the hero of the night, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten half-century that guided India to the title. The encounter kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Celebrations broke out across India soon after the win, with rallies and chants echoing nationalistic fervor. The final carried special significance as it marked the first India-Pakistan Asia Cup title clash in 41 years.
Following the triumph, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on Facebook: “Operation Sindoor on the cricket field. The result is the same – India wins! Congratulations to our cricketers.” His remarks also alluded to recent border tensions with Pakistan.
India had launched “Operation Sindoor” after a militant attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Pakistan, however, claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets during the operation and later mounted retaliatory strikes.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka face off today in the Asia Cup group stage. Winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to field, putting Bangladesh in to bat first. While this is Sri Lanka’s first match of the tournament, it is Bangladesh’s second.
The Tigers made one change to their lineup, with Shariful Islam replacing Taskin Ahmed.
In head-to-head records, Sri Lanka leads with 12 wins out of 20 T20 encounters, while Bangladesh has secured 8 victories. However, Bangladesh has dominated recent meetings, winning 4 of the last 5 matches.
A win today would significantly boost Bangladesh’s chances of qualifying for the Super Four, though a loss would make the path more difficult.
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