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Winner takes all in Dhaka - With the series locked at 1-1 and everything to play for, Bangladesh and Pakistan return to the Shere Bangla National Stadium for the third and final ODI on Sunday. It has been a series of two halves so far. The hosts dominated the opener with an eight-wicket win, only for Pakistan to roar back with a crushing 128-run victory in the second game. Both teams have now experienced being bowled out for exactly 114 runs in this series, proving that the Mirpur surface can be a fickle friend or a ruthless foe. Tigers hunting for home glory - Bangladesh will be desperate to reclaim their fortress after a tough outing in the second ODI where their top order crumbled before a rain delay made the chase even steeper. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz remains the tactical heartbeat of the side, but the pressure is on the likes of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das to provide the batting stability they lacked last time out. Litton Das showed some spark with a top score of 41 in the previous match, but the Tigers need a vintage performance from him to anchor the innings against a fired-up Pakistani pace attack. Firepower and the spirit of the game - The bowling unit continues to be Bangladesh's most dangerous weapon. Nahid Rana, the hero of the first game with his historic 5/24, will be looking to get back into his rhythm after Pakistan's openers took him on in the second match. Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman provide the experience, while Rishad Hossain's leg spin remains a crucial wicket-taking option in the middle overs. Expect a bit of extra spice in the middle following the controversial run out of Salman Ali Agha by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, an incident that has sparked a massive debate over the spirit of the game. Agha was visibly fuming after being sent packing for 64, so expect some serious intensity when these two cross paths again. With Agha admitting he was ‘not saying nice things’ in the heat of the moment, expect some extra heat when these two face off again. Pakistan's youth revolution - For the visitors, the series has validated their decision to blood new talent. The standout story has been 20-year-old Maaz Sadaqat, who followed a quiet debut with a match winning 75 off 46 balls and three wickets with his left arm spin. Pakistan's aggression at the top of the order, led by Sadaqat and Sahibzada Farhan, completely unsettled the hosts in the powerplay. Shaheen Afridi's captaincy has been proactive, and the inclusion of Haris Rauf has added raw pace that the Tigers found difficult to handle under the lights. However, they may be without all rounder Hussain Talat, who was hospitalised due to a serious left shoulder injury, after a painful collision with the boundary boards during the second game. ODI rivalry through the years - Bangladesh's most recent ODI series win over Pakistan came in 2015 when they swept the visitors 3-0 in Mirpur.
However, the historical balance of power still tilts toward Pakistan, who have won 35 of the 41 matches played between these two sides. The visitors recorded dominant series wins in 2002, 2003, 2008, and 2011, but the hosts have recently won four of their last five ODI meetings against Pakistan at this specific venue. Team Form (Last 5 completed ODIs, most recent first) Bangladesh - LWWLW | Pakistan - WLWWW. The ranking crisis - Bangladesh is currently ranked 10th in the ICC ODI rankings as of March 2026, having slipped from higher positions following a tough streak of form, including a 3-0 whitewash by the West Indies in 2025. To gain automatic qualification for the 2027 tournament, Bangladesh must be among the top eight teams (excluding hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe) by the cut-off date of March 31, 2027. Currently positioned 10th, Bangladesh needs to overtake teams like the West Indies (9th) and potentially others to make the top eight. Winning this 3-match ODI series against Pakistan is a vital opportunity to gain ranking points. What to expect? Having already seen the penultimate ODI disrupted by rain, the weather looks set to play its part once again in the third and final match, with thunderstorms and showers forecast as the evening draws in. One can only hope the conditions remain kind enough to allow a full game, giving both sides the opportunity to settle the series in the competitive fashion it deserves.
Squads:
Pakistan Squad: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi(c), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Faisal Akram, Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood
Bangladesh Squad: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz(c), Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Tanvir Islam, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Soumya Sarkar
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However, the historical balance of power still tilts toward Pakistan, who have won 35 of the 41 matches played between these two sides. The visitors recorded dominant series wins in 2002, 2003, 2008, and 2011, but the hosts have recently won four of their last five ODI meetings against Pakistan at this specific venue. Team Form (Last 5 completed ODIs, most recent first) Bangladesh - LWWLW | Pakistan - WLWWW. The ranking crisis - Bangladesh is currently ranked 10th in the ICC ODI rankings as of March 2026, having slipped from higher positions following a tough streak of form, including a 3-0 whitewash by the West Indies in 2025. To gain automatic qualification for the 2027 tournament, Bangladesh must be among the top eight teams (excluding hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe) by the cut-off date of March 31, 2027. Currently positioned 10th, Bangladesh needs to overtake teams like the West Indies (9th) and potentially others to make the top eight. Winning this 3-match ODI series against Pakistan is a vital opportunity to gain ranking points. What to expect? Having already seen the penultimate ODI disrupted by rain, the weather looks set to play its part once again in the third and final match, with thunderstorms and showers forecast as the evening draws in. One can only hope the conditions remain kind enough to allow a full game, giving both sides the opportunity to settle the series in the competitive fashion it deserves.
Squads:
Pakistan Squad: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi(c), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Faisal Akram, Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood
Bangladesh Squad: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz(c), Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Tanvir Islam, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Soumya Sarkar
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All posters, please take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:
1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staff, etc.
2. No making fun of players', officials', or coaching staff's names.
3. Do not add any references to media, their social media, or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.
4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion, as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.
