Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday, May 30. Pakistan defeated their opponents by 37 runs in the first match of the series and will, naturally, carry this confidence into the next game as well.
Led by the experienced Salman Agha, Pakistan will start this game with the upper hand, given that they are familiar with these conditions and have been playing a lot of T20 cricket recently, thanks to the Pakistan Super League.
Bangladesh appear to be a bedraggled lot, having just lost a three-match T20I series to the United Arab Emirates and failed to live up to the billing in the first game of this one as well. New captain Litton Das’ tenure has not got off to a good start, and we do not think much will change in the second game either.
Bangladesh’s batters have struggled to adapt to the conditions in the UAE and Pakistan, repeatedly leading to their downfall. Unless and until Bangladesh’s batters learn how to tackle spin effectively in this format and take on bowlers at the proper times, they will continue to struggle against their opponents.
Predicted Teams
PAK: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
BAN: Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (c & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam.
Key Players
Fakhar Zaman (PAK): Fakhar Zaman has been one of the best batters for Pakistan for over a generation, and he has still managed to hold his own in T20I cricket, speaking primarily to his tenacity. The experience he brings to Pakistan at the top of the order is unmatched, and one can expect him to fire in this game against Bangladesh, tearing into the likes of Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud while trying to score as many runs as possible against the new ball.
Jaker Ali (BAN): Wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali, who played in the first match of the series as a pure batter, is a player who Bangladesh can rely on in times of distress. Ali is known for his big-hitting prowess and will be a crucial cog in the Bangladeshi wheel in the death overs, whether they bat first or chase a target set by Pakistan. Ali has a lot of innovative shots up his sleeve as well.
Match Prediction
Pakistan, after winning the first game of the series, will be on a high, and we expect them to win this match as well. They are clearly the stronger side than Bangladesh on the field, even though the visitors have named a quite strong team on paper. Unfortunately, things have just not clicked for Das’ team, and one believes that they will still need some more time and experience under their belt to get going.
Pakistan vs Bangladesh – 3rd T20I Prediction, June 01, 2025
Pakistan meet Bangladesh at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, June 1, in the third and final T20I of the series being played between the two teams. While Pakistan took the lead in the series after winning the first game, Bangladesh will be keen to get one back as soon as possible.
While skipper Litton Das was given charge of the team until the next T20I World Cup in 2026, he will be in danger of losing his job early if the team’s results do not improve. Bangladesh also lost a series they played against UAE 1-2, and this will not have helped matters at all.
For Pakistan, the likes of Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will be expected to fire. At the same time, for Bangladesh, a lot of responsibility will lie upon the shoulders of Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali and Das himself to score the runs.
Pakistan have an advantage given that they come into this series on the back of playing in the franchise tournament, the Pakistan Super League, which has helped them gain momentum. Their bowlers are well-prepared for this series against Bangladesh, while their batters are also hitting the ball well. Overall, the hosts look more composed and at ease in T20 cricket currently.
Predicted Teams
PAK: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
BAN: Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (c & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam.
Key Players
Haris Rauf (PAK): Seamer Haris Rauf is one of the most exciting players Pakistan have produced in a long time. In this series, he has had to take up the responsibility of leading Pakistan’s bowling unit in the absence of regular starter Shaheen Afridi. Rauf can hit the deck hard and get the ball to move laterally as well. In T20 cricket, the seamer has reinvented himself by adding numerous variations, such as slower balls and cutters, to his arsenal.
Mahedi Hasan (BAN): Mahedi Hasan, who was named Bangladesh’s vice-captain ahead of this series, will be a key player for them against Pakistan. His all-round abilities make him stand out from the rest of his teammates, but so do his fielding capabilities. Primarily, however, Hasan is an off-spinner who makes life difficult for opposition batters with his drift, turn and bounce. He will be one to watch out for in this match.
Match Prediction
There is little doubt that Pakistan are the favourites to win this game and will be expected to do so comfortably. Bangladesh have just not been able to find their feet in this series, and we do not think that this will change anytime soon. Pakistan are a much better T20 side than their visitors and are preparing ahead for the World Cup, slated to be held in the Indian subcontinent next year. For Bangladesh, a challenging road lies ahead, and it remains to be seen how well they will be able to cope with these difficulties and adapt.
