Pakistan v Bangladesh | 2nd T20I | Lahore | May 30 | Pre-Match Discussion

[Cricket Warrior]

After a commanding 37-run victory in the first T20I, Pakistan will look to seal the series against Bangladesh in the second encounter at Lahore. The hosts delivered a solid all-round performance in the series opener, with contributions from both batters and bowlers setting the tone, thanks largely to a fiery five-wicket haul from Hassan Ali that dismantled the Bangladeshi batting lineup.

On the other side, Bangladesh showed some resistance through Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy but struggled to handle Pakistan’s pace attack. They'll need a stronger, more disciplined effort with both bat and ball to stay alive in the series. It’s all to play for in Lahore—can Pakistan finish it off, or will Bangladesh bounce back?

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan should make it 2-0.

 

[Rana]

Give Sahibzada a go with the series still active

Fakhar needs to acclimatise to the opening slot. Keep him going, give Saim a rest. He is proven.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Pakistan should make it 2-0.

Bangladesh took wickets tonight and it was sheer luck that Pakistan managed to reach a total of 200. If it had been anything below 180, Bangladesh could have chased it easily. So I don't think it will be a piece of cake for Pakistan to make it 2-0. In fact my prediction for the next game is 1-1.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Give Sahibzada a go with the series still active

Fakhar needs to acclimatise to the opening slot. Keep him going, give Saim a rest. He is proven.

True... Saim doesn’t look confident after his comeback, so I think the right-left combo of Fakhar and Farhan would work more effectively. By the book they should have gone with Farhan already as he is in supreme form these days.

 

[BouncerGuy]

It's sad to see that PSL's top run scorer at a great strike rate is warming the bench. Injustice with Farhan tbh... He should be playing each and every game... Rest Saim or, whatever, but Farhan should be your number 1 choice with the kind of form he is in... No need to play Saim, he is not yet here 100%.

 

[Hellion]

Rush Shaheen into the squad and replace Rauf with Shaheen.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Bring in Sahibzada Farhan into the XI. Despite all the waffle Aamir Sohail & Ramiz Raja talk on comms, this Pakistan team could do with another batter in the XI. Also I wonder if they will continue the rotation policy in the series which they probably should do.

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Sahibzada Farhan
3. Saim Ayub
4. Agha Ali Salman (C)
5. Hassan Nawaz
6. M.Haris (WK)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Abbas Afridi
9. Hasan Ali
10. Naseem Shah/Faheem Ashraf
11. Abrar Ahmed

It would have been good to potentially see someone like Tayyab Tahir in the top order cause Irfan Khan Niazi is not a No.3/4.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Given Saim's bad run of form lately if he is rotated it may come across as him being dropped.

If we want to start this positive culture aroud. rotations it has to be one of the seniors rested. We should beat Bangladesh anyway. Rest Shadab bring in Sahibzada and let Khushdil, Saim and Agha bowl a bit more.

 

[RidiculousMan]

I wouldn't have played Saim ahead of Farhan in this series.

 

[Rana]

True... Saim doesn’t look confident after his comeback, so I think the right-left combo of Fakhar and Farhan would work more effectively. By the book they should have gone with Farhan already as he is in supreme form these days.

It’s more because you can keep the offie out of the game early on against the lefties.

Spinners overs in the middle v Nawaz are crucial. He will take them down for you.

 

[Barragan]

Like I said for the 1st match, no point of playing Abrar

All of Shadab, Salman and Khusdil picked up wkts, but Abrar went wicketless and on top of that, Saim didn't even bowl

Bring in Farhan for Abrar

1. Saim
2. Farhan
3. Fakhar
4. Haris (wk)
5. Salman
6. Nawaz
7. Shadab
8. Khusdil
9. Faheem
10. Abbas
11. Hassan

This lineup will bring back the days of having Razzaq and Afridi at 7 and 8 position

Deep batting and perfect for the modern game

 

[Rana]

Like I said for the 1st match, no point of playing Abrar

All of Shadab, Salman and Khusdil picked up wkts, but Abrar went wicketless and on top of that, Saim didn't even bowl

Bring in Farhan for Abrar

1. Saim
2. Farhan
3. Fakhar
4. Haris (wk)
5. Salman
6. Nawaz
7. Shadab
8. Khusdil
9. Faheem
10. Abbas
11. Hassan

This lineup will bring back the days of having Razzaq and Afridi at 7 and 8 position

Deep batting and perfect for the modern game

Relax man Abrar is a key bowler. It’s ok if he didn’t have a great game.

Farhan should be in. Don’t mind if it’s for Fakhar or Saim.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Relax man Abrar is a key bowler. It’s ok if he didn’t have a great game.

Farhan should be in. Don’t mind if it’s for Fakhar or Saim.

Yes... Abrar should play all games. Subcontinent events are coming up, so we need to be sure that we have a good spinner who has played enough games to be ready.

We dont have to stress saim too much.. no need... play farhan

 

[Barragan]

Relax man Abrar is a key bowler. It’s ok if he didn’t have a great game.

Farhan should be in. Don’t mind if it’s for Fakhar or Saim.

That's the whole point

Any of Saim, Salman, Khusdil and Shadab can have a great game with the ball as well

Unless you're an Ajmal, there is no need for a specialist spinner

Batting can implode, so reinforce it

 

[mominsaigol]

Not a fan of Saim moving at no 3 if Haris is doing a fabulous job at that no.

1) Fakhar
2) Farhan/ Saim( Cricket is about competition, may the better player get the position)
3) Haris
4) Agha
5) Hasan Nawaz

^^ This is your top 5. Keep as is. Agha is captain and I like him although he's more of a odi and test batter. T20 is not his fortei but atleast hes willing to play t20 like t20 is meant to be played.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Shadab and Faheem aren't going away anytime soon. One of them at least will be in the WT20 cause Pakistan absolutely need an all rounder at no. 7

 

[mango_bite77]

Drop Khushdil, bring Farhan.

Move Fakhar to no 3. That's where he has performed lately.

 

[RidiculousMan]

If Fakhar doesn't perform as an opener in this series. He may need to play back at his recently performed position no. 4 for Pakistan. Or he might as well be benched

 

[BouncerGuy]

If Fakhar doesn't perform as an opener in this series. He may need to play back at his recently performed position no. 4 for Pakistan. Or he might as well be benched

People cried that he is the best opener. Now he is back as an opener, we should at least give him another series after this and then let's see.

 

[RidiculousMan]

People cried that he is the best opener.

But he has never really performed for Pakistan as an opener in his T20I career.

 

[BouncerGuy]

But he has never really performed for Pakistan as an opener in his T20I career.

People will jump on you for this statement...LOL

Just go with the flow

 

[cricfan432]

Fakhar got out with ball that nipped in, what is the solution for this? Can't fakhar handle little bit of swing being an opener for many years or has he lost that ability being 35. If that's the case he should come down and target spinners.

 

[Rana]

Fakhar got out with ball that nipped in, what is the solution for this? Can't fakhar handle little bit of swing being an opener for many years or has he lost that ability being 35. If that's the case he should come down and target spinners.

He was surprised. It’s ok.

Next game you will see him better prepared, different guard and possibly a step or two in front of his crease.

 

[mominsaigol]

People will jump on you for this statement...LOL

Just go with the flow

You saved him

 

[mominsaigol]

Anyway Fakhar is the best opener for Pakistan period. Theirs no mental gymnastics about different formats.

Hes your best opener, he opens until his expiry date, end of discussion

 

[Rana]

Fakhar got out with ball that nipped in, what is the solution for this? Can't fakhar handle little bit of swing being an opener for many years or has he lost that ability being 35. If that's the case he should come down and target spinners.

The same angle in the 50 over World Cup…he absolutely murdered Trent Boult at Bangalore. He just needs to be switched on from ball 1.

 

[Kianig89]

Don't do the Mistake of playing 5 openers, just win the series

 

[Rana]

Great partnership

 

[shamaan]

Same xi

 

[gazza619]

Same xi

Why not try other guns in a series where the results don’t matter?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Same xi

nope... Saim should be replaced with Sahibzada Farhan

 

[Shaka81]

nope... Saim should be replaced with Sahibzada Farhan

I'd rather Fakhar was replaced instead by Farhan. We know what he can do and Saim needs games to get himself going again after injury.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Sahibzada Farhan needs a prolonged run now and Hassan looks great in middle order

 

[Greenstorm]

Give Sahibzada a go with the series still active

Fakhar needs to acclimatise to the opening slot. Keep him going, give Saim a rest. He is proven.

Fakhar should bat at 3 with Saim and Farhan opening. Harris should bat at 7 by dropping Shadab. Salman can rest in 3rd T20I and Shadab can come back as captain after we win this one. This is what England/Australia would've done.

 

[Greenstorm]

But he has never really performed for Pakistan as an opener in his T20I career.

He did performed as an opener in a tri series and in NZ.

Now with so many choices for openers, we have the luxury of utilizing Fakhar at 3 or middle order where he can murder spinners. He can change the game with within two overs if his eyes are set against a particular spinner specially a leg spinner.

3. Fakhar
4. Salman
5. Hassan

This is a weshi trio against any spin attack and unlike Hafeez-Malik types, are not too shabby against pacers either.

 

[RidiculousMan]

He did performed as an opener in a tri series and in NZ.

Fakhar as an opener has averaged 21.9 with 135 SR in international Cricket.

That NZ and Tri Series performances came in 2017-18. It's 2025 now and we have many younger options.

If Fakhar doesn't perform now even as an opener then someone else should and will take that opening spot before WT20 2026.

 

[Greenstorm]

Fakhar as an opener has averaged 21.9 with 135 SR in international Cricket.

That NZ and Tri Series performances came in 2017-18. It's 2025 now and we have many younger options.

If Fakhar doesn't perform now even as an opener then someone else should and will take that opening spot before WT20 2026.

Yes but you said that he never performed as an opener which was factually incorrect.

Anyways, I agree that Fakhar should bat at 3 instead of opening. Not selecting him for 2026 WC will be a foolish mistake just like we didn't played him in 2023 WC against India and Australia.

 

[shamaan]

nope... Saim should be replaced with Sahibzada Farhan

Can't just keep chopping and changing it needed to be done at the biggening of the series.

 

[shamaan]

Why not try other guns in a series where the results don’t matter?

He needed to be picked in the first game.

 

[Farabi]

Give Sahibzada a go with the series still active

Fakhar needs to acclimatise to the opening slot. Keep him going, give Saim a rest. He is proven.

Saim’s got the goods — no doubt about that. But right now, he needs game time to really hit his stride, especially with tougher teams coming up.

That said, with the way he’s been playing lately, I’m kinda on the fence about resting Saim Ayub.

Honestly, this one’s tricky. I’ve been banging the drum for Sahibzada Farhan to get a consistent run for years — so you know where my heart is.

Fakhar Zaman? For me, he’s Pakistan’s best white-ball opener. He’s in form, so if anyone who can be rested with low risk, it’s him.

 

[BouncerGuy]

There is no way you can bench PSL top scorer and play over-hyped guys. Farhan should have played all the games till WC, but LOL PCB management. Anyway, let's see if he gets a chance in this game. Chances are sli,m though.

 

[mominsaigol]

There is no way you can bench PSL top scorer and play over-hyped guys. Farhan should have played all the games till WC, but LOL PCB management. Anyway, let's see if he gets a chance in this game. Chances are sli,m though.

Your comments from the past had you hating on him with a passion? Abh kya hua?

This guy should have made his debut a long time ago.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Your comments from the past had you hating on him with a passion? Abh kya hua?

This guy should have made his debut a long time ago.

Performance matters. If he is performing, he should be the front runner. Saim should be benched now for Farhan.

If a guy is performing consistently, then there is no way he can be benched.