Shoaib Malik hits 58* as Pakistan beat Bangladesh by five wickets in first T20I at Lahore

[MenInG]

 

[Mamoon]

It was a torture to watch. T20 cricket at its absolute worst.

 

[MenInG]

It was a torture to watch. T20 cricket at its absolute worst.

But you watched it. Kudos. Now find something else to do or post proper analysis on this thread.

 

[PakPremi]

Easy win at the end for Pak and that too without any contribution from Babar. Pak needs Fakhar back though to ease chasing bigger scores, and one of Ifti or Imad to be dropped for Khushdil or Ammad.

 

[nap229]

It was a torture to watch. T20 cricket at its absolute worst.

Please go away. Post something useful or stop posting.

 

[nap229]

Easy win at the end for Pak and that too without any contribution from Babar. Pak needs Fakhar back though to ease chasing bigger scores, and one of Ifti or Imad to be dropped for Khushdil or Ammad.

We don't need fak, we need to groom new batsman. Keep trying till we find someone who clicks. Bring fak once he shows more form.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

The lack of batting depth is worrying. Rizwan looked like a tailender.

 

[Titan24]

[MENTION=2987]deep82[/MENTION] It was all in good fun and spirit bro. I thought you were also expecting and wanting something like this little fun talk turning up on Pak match and starting with nothing but punches and jokes. Again it was nothing personal but an enjoyable little banter.

 

[Swing]

Mamoon is right. It was horrible to watch. Felt like I was watching a club match on a poorly maintained ground.

Malik seems so cool and calm in these low score chases and that's something we need honestly because we often bottle it while trying to get these small totals.

 

[Rayyman]

Good win boys. Didn’t watch, but still well played.

 

[Titan24]

Pak definitely needs to find couple of young dynamic batsmen in the middle as clearly in T20s we have a shortage. Hussain Talat, Saif Badar, Rizwan Hussain have shown glimpses but other than Talat they arent ready at the moment unless they come into the limelight by playing a blinder in PSL.

Khushdil needs to be given consistent oppurtunities to prove himself as playing him in one match and dropping him for other two doesnt serve any purpose. Adil Amin looked decent previously but missed a big opportunity this time in national T20 cup when places were there for grab in national team.

New players knocking the door is the only way to move from the previous ones.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Struggling to beat a Bangla C side on home turf? This is not a good lookout for the no.1 team

 

[Pakhs]

Easy win in the end. Only thing that came out is rizwan coming in at the end he is not a power hitter.

 

[Pakhs]

Struggling to beat a Bangla C side on home turf? This is not a good lookout for the no.1 team

There no B-C-D side in T20s all you need is 2-3 players per match to come good and that if someone doesn't have a magical game. T20 you win and you move on.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

We need Sharjeel back. Won't make those 200 scores without him in the WC.

 

[Shaddy86]

It was probably the most boring T20 game I've ever seen. Can't blame people for not coming out to grounds when we have games like these.

 

[ZamanFan]

Hahahaha

So the downfall of Pakistan cricket starts, mafia wins today and Pakistan cricket is defeated today. Congrats to this imported administrator Wasim Khan and the importer Ehsan Mani, for the preparation. Pathetic sub-standard pitch where bounce was hardly reaching the knees of the batsmen and for their superman Misbah ul Haq for choosing one of the worst teams I've seen play a T20. Neither the ground or pitch was of T20 standard nor the batting. Pakpassion should not be posting threads like crowd watch, there is not a single dynamic batsman in this Pakistan lineup why would anyone want to come see this eyesore of a team. This debutant Ahsan Ali looked like a carbon copy of another selfish spotsaver Asad Shafiq.
8th ranked side won against 9th ranked team. Even Afghanistan would've defeated these Pak-Ban joint team combined.
Request PSL teams to take charge from PCB and improve the pitches before the PSL or else Wasim Khan will screw this wordderful tournament as well.

 

[shah_1]

I feel for the fans who paid to watch this disaster

Poor pitch. Shame on PCB

 

[Abdullah719]

Struggling to beat a Bangla C side on home turf? This is not a good lookout for the no.1 team

Same Bangla C side that just recently beat the #5 team in a T20I without Tamim and Shakib?

 

[Artaxerxes]

Imad is bits and pieces player.He can't spin the ball and he can't bat.Pakistan has to look for an all rounder.Hafeez should be replaced by a younger guy.

 

[Abdullah719]

Extremely dull game. Hope it's better tomorrow. Pitch was way too slow.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Same Bangla C side that just recently beat the #5 team in a T20I without Tamim and Shakib?

But that was the no.5 team not the #1 team . We shouldn't expect the same from both?

 

[Slim]

But that was the no.5 team not the #1 team . We shouldn't expect the same from both?

Quit trolling buddy. You guys look so petty trying to undermine us.

 

[shah_1]

Extremely dull game. Hope it's better tomorrow. Pitch was way too slow.

The pitch was completely dead

 

[Abdullah719]

But that was the no.5 team not the #1 team . We shouldn't expect the same from both?

I am told they are the real #1 team So have high expectations.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I am told they are the real #1 team So have high expectations.

Don't think any Indian poster has mentioned that though.

 

[Rayyman]

The pitch was completely dead

Lahore pitch has been trash for last 2-3 years.

 

[Markhor]

This match and series proves nothing about how we will fare on true Australian wickets.

 

[Omer2002]

Rizwan should be no way near the team has to be a part time keeper Abid or Khushdil or Kami needs to be back...thats only in 20 20 or may be one days too

 

[Artaxerxes]

Didn't PCB invite English curators recently to help local curators preprare good wickets?.This pitch had no pace or bounce.Pakistan don't have good spinners so it would have made sense to prepare a pitch which suits quick bowlers.

 

[MRSN]

Didn't PCB invite English curators recently to help local curators preprare good wickets?.This pitch had no pace or bounce.Pakistan don't have good spinners so it would have made sense to prepare a pitch which suits quick bowlers.

quite a surprise as Lahore pitch is usually a good batting pitch but you have to look at the batting talents in the both team.

 

[MenInG]

Shoaib Malik, playing his first international game since announcing his retirement from ODIs after the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019, scored an unbeaten 58 to guide Pakistan home in first of the three T20Is played at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, 24 January.

Chasing Bangladesh's 141/5, Pakistan lost Babar Azam for a duck early in the chase, after the skipper unsuccessfully challenged the on-field decision for a caught behind off medium-pacer Shaiful Islam in the very first over. Mohammad Hafeez, also making an international comeback looked good early on, striking three fours, but lobbed one to the short-cover fielder off Mustafizur Rahman to leave the hosts at a tricky 35/2 at the end of the fifth over.

Malik then joined Ahsan Ali, one of Pakistan's two debutants, and the pair put on 46 for the third wicket to ensure steady progress. Ahsan lost his patience to the wrist-spin of Aminul, who gave little away in the middle overs. Iftikhar Ahmed edged one behind off Shaiful at 16, while Imad Wasim was castled by Al-Amin Hossain on the first ball of the penultimate over, with Pakistan still nine away. Malik, having already reached his fifty in the previous over, kept the scoreboard moving to reduce the equation off five off the final overs.

With the hosts still two away, Mohammad Rizwan, the keeper-batsman skied one to Mohammad Mithun at deep mid-wicket, but the fielder shelled the chance to allow Pakistan complete a five-wicket win.

Earlier, Tamim Iqbal (39) and Mohammad Naim (43) added 71 for the first wicket but struggled to accelerate on a sluggish surface after skipper Mahmudullah opted to bat. Haris Rauf, the debutant latched onto an opportunity brought about by the misjudgment from the pair, resulting in Tamim's run-out on the last ball of the 11th over. The next three overs yielded 25 runs, but another run-out, this time brought about by a brilliant piece of fielding by Shadab Khan who found a direct-hit at the non-striker's end to cut short Liton Das's stay for 12, dented the progress.

Skipper Mahmudullah scored an unbeaten 19 off 14, while Naim top-scored for the visitors in their first innings effort of 141/5. Shaheen Afridi, Shadab and Rauf grabbed a wicket each.

The second game will be played on Saturday, 25 January at the same venue.

 

[MMHS]

Mian Malik again into act - don't know how good it'll be in the long run PCT. Now days both buzurs are openly asking media & experts to back Mishbah carrying them till T20 WC (Malik at least put a limit into it - 2020 ...). It was a game for us to pick as not everyday Shafiul will get Babar for a duck, but Miah Malik is too good for such targets on this type of tracks - calculated the chase by millimeter precision.

A pathetic T20 game from the scorecard, but actual contest was probably closer. Our boys went with 8 batsmen, then played like 6 Day Test!!!! I think, tomorrow, there will be one change in XI, may be two - Mahdi & Shanto in for Afif & Naim; and lot more in batting order.

 

[ahmedzee]

A win for Pakistan and Shoaib did play well (credit where it's due).

However, I am not satisfied with this performance. Unfortunately we have no hitter or someone who can score quickly at will. We have grinders and accumulaters in the team that can help you chase 140 but not 160 or 180+. The likes of Fakhar and Sharjeel are required in this team. I would go on and say that even Wahab's batting is required. I assume Ammad Butt is someone who can hit down the order which should be a good addition for the next game in place of Hasnain.

Team combination is still not right. Maybe good enough to beat BD at home but not good enough beat any other team like India, Australia, NZ and England.

 

[Ozeirk]

Malik's performance is deceiving however the youngsters failed again. No wonder we lost to Australia so easily. Hafeez and Malik in the middle order saved the game but Malik's performance should be taken with a grain of salt considering the world Cup is in Australia and he is usually ineffective against quality fast bowling.

 

[hadi123]

Boring game. Good win for Pakistan.

 

[BDfanforever]

Mian Malik again into act - don't know how good it'll be in the long run PCT. Now days both buzurs are openly asking media & experts to back Mishbah carrying them till T20 WC (Malik at least put a limit into it - 2020 ...). It was a game for us to pick as not everyday Shafiul will get Babar for a duck, but Miah Malik is too good for such targets on this type of tracks - calculated the chase by millimeter precision.

A pathetic T20 game from the scorecard, but actual contest was probably closer. Our boys went with 8 batsmen, then played like 6 Day Test!!!! I think, tomorrow, there will be one change in XI, may be two - Mahdi & Shanto in for Afif & Naim; and lot more in batting order.

Why should Naim be dropped? I would like to know what has this overhyped Liton/Soumya done so far? They both looked awful.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Mian Malik again into act - don't know how good it'll be in the long run PCT. Now days both buzurs are openly asking media & experts to back Mishbah carrying them till T20 WC (Malik at least put a limit into it - 2020 ...). It was a game for us to pick as not everyday Shafiul will get Babar for a duck, but Miah Malik is too good for such targets on this type of tracks - calculated the chase by millimeter precision.

A pathetic T20 game from the scorecard, but actual contest was probably closer. Our boys went with 8 batsmen, then played like 6 Day Test!!!! I think, tomorrow, there will be one change in XI, may be two - Mahdi & Shanto in for Afif & Naim; and lot more in batting order.

Malik is needed at 4 in this team.

 

[MMHS]

Malik is needed at 4 in this team.

Not outside Asia, and definitely not against teams with couple of 140K+ pacers any where. Even Al-amin was troubling him in initial spell on this track!!!!!! This guy has started playing cricket earlier than many of the BD players in this squad was born, therefore he had the experience to stroll past 141 .... today our boys couldn't figure out what should be the approach and they were too cautious about not to get at 57/5 against PAK attack - another 10-12, even against this attack, Mian Malik would have struggled for breather.

I am a big fan of Malik, but it's natural decline - this game is based on power, reflex and hand-eye coordination; even if I take his age genuine, at 38+ he is not going to do any dodo on wickets where ball comes at thigh height & above. I understand PCT & Misbah needs some wins under their belt, so they are playing MoHa, Malik, Ifti... against this BD team - it'll cost PAK big time in next 2 WCs. This was the series to introduce at least 3 new T20 batsmen - they have picked one guy who would lie down twice if he is to run from one end to other end at MCG, just once.....

 

[MMHS]

Why should Naim be dropped? I would like to know what has this overhyped Liton/Soumya done so far? They both looked awful.

He should be dropped not for his cricket (he can be a good ODI opener), rather because of no understanding the game. I didn't see the game, but I have read the CI commentary - guy had absolutely no clue of what's going around and what's need to be done. Today, it could easily have been 151/7 or 150/9 - people are bashing Tamim, but he was run out just when he started to open-up and Liton's spot was hijacked by Naim, ideally he should open with Tamim and Soumya should bat at 3.

 

[moghul]

What exactly Hafeez is doing in the team, when will this torture end

 

[sweep_shot]

First of all, congratulations to Pakistan team for winning the game. It was not clinical but a win is a win. I was surprised to see Babar scoring a duck but Pakistan crossed over the line comfortably.

I didn't watch the game but I was constantly checking scores. I think BD lost for 3 reasons:

1) Captain Mahmudullah was poor with his captaincy. He should've used Afif more. Not sure why he used Sarkar for 3 overs.

2) Mustafiz has been quite expensive for the last one year or so. He is now a liability. I would play Rubel over him.

3) Bangladesh battled too slowly. They had wickets in hand yet they couldn't cross 150. That was a shame.

Hopefully BD can do better and make it 1-1. Fingers crossed.

 

[MRSN]

What exactly Hafeez is doing in the team, when will this torture end

need selectors who has the courage to face losses. Misbah is in panic mood after couple of losses hence so many changes in three series. He is darpook selector like he was a darpook batsman. no offence to his fans..

 

[GrandMaster]

Pathetic performance from Bangladesh. Their players are still fresh from the recently concluded BPL but still managed to score only 142 in 20 overs?

I don’t see Bangladesh winning a single game.

 

[sweep_shot]

Pathetic performance from Bangladesh. Their players are still fresh from the recently concluded BPL but still managed to score only 142 in 20 overs?

I don’t see Bangladesh winning a single game.

Pitch was sluggish. But, I agree that they should've scored 160 (considering the start they got from Tamim and Naim).

BD would've probably won had they scored 160-165.

 

[Glen Durrant fan]

Struggling to beat a Bangla C side on home turf? This is not a good lookout for the no.1 team

You can only beat what is in front of you! And I don't think you can get a stronger Bangladesh side than this one, obviously bar Shakib but that is his fault.

And I agree that it was bad to watch. We do need a more dashing opener, maybe Kamran, although preferably either Fakhar or Sharjeel with Kamran at 3 and keeper? Then free up the next 3 places for Malik, Iftikhar and another power-hitting specialist like Akmal, Asif or Khushdil?