“We [will] bowl first. Actually, also as a pre-game thing in the team, two players were injured, Shamyl Hussain is injured, Hussain Talaz is injured, last game, that’s why shoulder dislocated. Wasim Jr is resting, so he’s gone again. So that’s why we just decided to like, you know, go for a team and hopefully we bowl well and take a couple of wickets. (did weather impact the decision?) Yeah, that’s why we chose the one because also the condition looks good right now and later on it will rain again and hopefully we take our wicket and restrict them. So the two debutants playing they also are very good batters – Ghazi Gori debut and also Saad Masood debut. So I hope for their performance and support them. Three changes, two new debutants,” Shaheen said at the toss.
Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said his side was confident about putting up a competitive total and backing their bowling attack to defend it.
“I’m happy because the wicket looks good. I think we are confident. In the last two matches we have bowled well, but still I’m confident that if we get that score, definitely it’s a very good score on this wicket. Yes, definitely. I think we always talk about the best batting unit. You have to take responsibility in the top order and the middle-order batsmen. So if we get the runs, definitely our team will be better. I think everyone has to take responsibility. Yes, definitely. The most important thing is that you have to take responsibility and build partnerships. We should have partnerships with the top order. If you get partnerships, definitely we will be in a good position in the match. Yes, I think 260 is a very good score in these conditions because we have a very good bowling attack – three fast bowlers and two spinners – and definitely we can defend that. No, we don’t have changes. Today it is the same team.”
According to the pitch report, the match is being played on the surface that hosted the first international at the venue. The pitch has noticeably less grass, though recent thunderstorms have left a few darker patches which could make it slightly tacky early on. With a strong breeze expected to dry the surface, bowlers could find assistance in the first 10 overs before it settles into a good batting track.
“The move to the pitch which was used in the first international. If you look at the surface itself, it’s much less grass. There isn’t a whole lot of grass covering, but since there was a thunderstorm the other night, you see a little bit dark patches here. It might be just a little bit tacky, you know, sometimes, it’s still very strong in breeze, so it will dry up. But initially, the first 10 overs or so, I think there will be something for the bowlers. We already know that Shaheen Shah Afrifi has decided to bowl first on this surface. No surprises here, so you’outside the leg-stump be looking to bowl on the stumps. I think this is, during the series, it’s turning out to be a really good sporting wicket. I love the way the curators have worked on, especially on the surface. You’ve got about runs, 275 is Pakistan’s score. You’ve got about 3 50s already being scored in this series. What about the wickets taken by the seamers? 19 compared to 11 from a spinner. So if there is a sporting wicket, I love when there is something available for everyone, not a one-sided affair. Yes, this looks once again a very good surface for batters and bowlers, and I reckon if a team can score 250 or more, then I think they’outside the leg-stump have to be challenged,” reckons Athar Ali Khan.
Teams
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Saad Masood, Shaheen Afridi(c), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das(w), Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz(c), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana.
