Champions Trophy 2024/25, Pak Vs Ban 9. Match, Group A Match Preview – Pakistan and Bangladesh Look – or HOPE

Big Image: Pakistan and Bangladesh Hope Rain Stay Away

It has not been a tournament to remember for neither Pakistan nor Bangladesh, and the team speaks ahead of their last match, against each other in Rawalpindi, will probably be the same: play for pride etc. With something screamed for the bad weather – if it Continuing, as the forecast says, the long faces of the two changing rooms will be longer.

Pakistan’s numbers in Champions Trophy matches against New Zealand and India do not make a beautiful reading. Their top order fighters have not drawn their collective weight. When Fakhar Zaman was injured, Imam-Ul-Haq came in and didn’t do much. Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam have both hit half a century each, but have been unable to have any great influence. Mohammad Rizwan has not seen in any form despite having scored a century in the tri series at home before Champions Trophy. Pakistan could bring in Kamran Ghulam just to refresh things up but who are they falling?

After the top four it is not better. Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir seem to play similar roles, which has led to stagnation in the middle. Faheem Ashraf could potentially have balanced since a little, but has not been given a chance. And the fast bowlers have struggled to control the power. India took Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf apart. Naseem Shah has been better but has seen under its best. Abrar Ahmed has bowlet a great delivery that was overshadowed by his party.

Bangladesh has not been too different, carried their fast bowling. Their batting has been one-dimensional and unable to walk through the gears, with the lower order to save them. Their supreme order threw themselves against India while Michael Bracewell’s offspin got rid of their middle order in the second game. Najmul Hossain Shanto showed form against New Zealand, while Jaker Ali has been consistent – they may need to do even more against Pakistan. As is the case with Towhid Hridoy, who scored an impressive century against India.

But they want Veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah to log out of what could be their last ICC game with a smell and not a whine. However, their lack of fire has been disappointing to see, but in Mahmudullah’s case it has just been a fight and a failure.

Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana have to make the heavy lift again on Thursday, with Mustafizur Rahman continued to be stable without being spectacular. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain, the main spinners, also have a lot to do, especially in Rawalpindi, where they should have a more central role.

But the two teams also look beyond this game. They need to set their priorities right in the domestic orbit and then look for improvement in their international team. They will both have to return to the drawing board ahead of the next ICC tournament and find out how they can make a better fist of it, especially with a transition of kinds possibly around the corner.

Form Guide

Pakistan Lllwl (Last five ended ODIs, latest first)
Bangladesh Lllll

In the limelight: Abrar Ahmed and Jaker Ali

His broadcast after Wonder Ball to Shubman Gill has attracted all the attention but Abrar Ahmed Has been one of the few success stories for Pakistan in the past few weeks. He has made up a wicket-take threat. He has also been financial. But Bangladesh handled him well last year in the Rawal Pindi test, so it will be interesting to see what happens on Thursday.

Jaker Ali has been a revelation for Bangladesh in the lower middle order in the last few months. It’s been only seven ODDs, but he average 50-plus with the two fifties. He is a strong hitter in the death that often finds the boundaries, but would not mind having another specialized dough at the other end for at least part of the time. Jaker can also offer his wicketkeeping if Bangladesh seems to be thinking with their XI and omitting Mushfiqur.

Team news: Will the teams call the changes?

Could Pakistan omit one of their star quick bowlers to give Mohammad Hasnain or Faheem Ashraf a chance? They also have batting options in Usman Khan and Kamran Ghulam.

Pakistan (Possible): 1 Imam-Ul-Haq/Usman Khan, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Saud Shakeel, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (Capt, WK), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Tayyab Tahir, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi/Mohammad Hasnain , 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed

Bangladesh (Possible): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Najmul Hossain Shanto (Capt), 3 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 4 Tohwid Hridoy, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Task Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman , 11 Nahid Rana

Pitch and Conditions: An eye on the weather

Pakistan hopes their goodbye from their own Champions Trophy is not figured out. There is rain in the forecast. The previous match at the venue, between South Africa and Australia, was also abandoned due to rain. The field would have been under cover for many of the last three days as the game starts and there is always the chance of extra moisture around the square.

Statistics and Trivia: Bangladeshs Pacers a little better

This is the first Pakistan vs. Bangladesh -Competition in Champions Trophy History
Pakistan beat Bangladesh in their only former ODDI in Rawalpindi in 2003
Pakistan has a 12-0 assembled homecord against Bangladesh in ODIs
The fast bowlers over the two teams have taken 11 wickets, but Bangladesh’s group has a bowling average of 44.83 and has admitted races of 5.12 per year. Above, while Pakistans has an average of 63.50 and an economy of 7.18.

Mohammad Isam is Espncricinfos Bangladesh -correspondent. @Isam84