Pakistan vs Bangladesh Highlights, Asia Cup 2025 Super Four: Pakistan defend 135 to beat Bangladesh by 11 runs

Sahibzada Farhan gets off the mark in style! He drives Taskin’s delivery beautifully through the covers, and it races to the boundary for four runs.

Taskin Ahmed starts proceedings against Sahibzada Farhan. Length delivery just outside off, shaping away slightly. Farhan presses half forward and drives it gently towards mid-off for no run.

Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan will open the batting for Pakistan, continuing their partnership from recent games. They may have their work cut out early against the new ball, with Taskin Ahmed ready to bowl the first over. The countdown timer ticks down — and we’re set to play!

The national anthems are over, and we are only minutes away from the start of this must-win clash. Bangladesh have won just once away from home against Pakistan in T20Is, and that too at the Asian Games, where both sides fielded second-string teams. Can they pull off a special performance tonight? No added pressure on Jaker Ali, the skipper, in just his second game as captain.

Bangladesh will be captained by Jaker Ali in today’s crucial Super Four clash against Pakistan. This marks another significant outing for him, as he takes charge in a high-pressure do-or-die match to try and guide his team to the Asia Cup final.

Both Pakistan and Bangladesh players have walked out to the pitch as the national anthems are played ahead of the high-stakes encounter. The ceremony marks the official start of the game, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling contest between the two sides.

Bangladesh had a tricky choice to make. Nasum could have troubled Pakistan’s batters with spin, but a fit Taskin is too valuable to leave out, especially against a line-up packed with left-handers.

The high-stakes clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh will get underway at 8:00 PM IST at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Both teams are eyeing a spot in the final against India, making this a must-win encounter.

Bangladesh will once again be without their regular captain, a challenge they’ll need to overcome in consecutive matches. The return of Taskin Ahmed, however, strengthens their pace attack, giving it extra bite with the new ball. Pakistan, on the other hand, appear to have found stability in their playing XI. While questions remain about their batting depth and firepower, the side has shown faith in this combination to push for a place in the final and possibly go further.

Some analysts suggested Pakistan could have included Hasan Nawaz, arguing that Hussain Talat’s inclusion signals a defensive approach and an expectation of early wickets falling. However, given Talat’s Player of the Match performance in the previous game, sticking with him seems like the sensible choice.

“We wanted to bat first, so it’s okay. Looks a good pitch. Scoreboard pressure is the key. We have defended well after scoring 150-plus. Beating SL was always great. We want to play good cricket and execute our plans. It’s always important playing any final. We want to focus on this game, want to win this game. We want to play good cricket. We are playing with the same side.”

With Tanzid dropped, Parvez Hossain Emon is set for a promotion to the top of the order. This is the position where he recently notched a T20I century, giving Bangladesh a strong option at the top.

Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali (capt & wk), Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (capt), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

The Dubai pitch has a good covering of grass, offering some assistance to seamers in the early overs. Former pacer Waqar Younis notes that the weather is cooler today, with a touch of moisture in the air. Simon Doull adds that the ball is likely to swing and seam early. Teams that navigate the powerplay without losing too many wickets could capitalize in the later stages.

Bangladesh have made three changes for the match, with Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam coming into the XI. Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, and Tanzim Hasan have been rested.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl in their do-or-die Super Four clash against Pakistan, hoping to restrict the Men in Green and chase a manageable target under Dubai lights.

Bangladesh have claimed two of their last three T20I clashes against Pakistan, including a home series triumph earlier this year. However, their overall record remains poor, with just 5 wins in 25 T20Is against the Men in Green. The question tonight: will Bangladesh’s recent resurgence hold, or will Pakistan rely on their historical dominance to stay unbeaten?

Pakistan are yet to register back-to-back wins in this Asia Cup, but their victory over Sri Lanka should boost team confidence. Bangladesh, on the other hand, face a quick turnaround after their last game, which could test their stamina and focus ahead of this crucial clash.

In a high-stakes clash like this, the toss could play a key role. Batting first has its advantages under lights, as India demonstrated yesterday, defending their total with disciplined bowling. Bangladesh might prefer to set a target and put Pakistan under pressure early, while Pakistan could still back themselves to chase if the captain decides to go second. The toss decision could ultimately influence how the pressure unfolds in this do-or-die match.

This clash feels like a final ahead of the final, with the winner earning a shot at the tournament’s top team. With Asia’s biggest cricket prize on the line, expect edge-of-the-seat action from start to finish.

The toss is scheduled soon, which will decide which team bats or bowls first. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s top-order batter Litton Das’ availability for the match remains uncertain.

Bangladesh Squad: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali(w/c), Mohammad Saifuddin, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Litton Das, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nurul Hasan

Pakistan Squad: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Muqeem, Khushdil Shah, Hasan Nawaz

Both Bangladesh and Pakistan have had a fairly similar journey in this Asia Cup. Each side played three group-stage matches, winning two and losing one, before entering the Super Fours with one victory and a loss to India. While both teams aimed to redefine their approach to the T20 format, the results have been mixed. Nonetheless, their performances have brought them to the brink of the final, with just one do-or-die game standing between them and a clash against India.

The toss winner’s decision—whether to bat or bowl first—depends on conditions and strategy. In Dubai:

Pitch: Slow and slightly difficult for the side batting first, but still manageable.

Weather: Hot (around 38°C max), which could make fielding challenging later in the innings.

Likely scenario: Teams may choose to field first to take advantage of the heat and assess conditions before chasing.

For the first time in his T20I career, Mohammad Nawaz hasn’t bowled for Pakistan in consecutive innings.

Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman became the fourth bowler in T20I history to take 150 wickets, joining Rashid Khan, Tim Southee, and Ish Sodhi.

Jaker Ali captaining Bangladesh in their last match marked a first for him in all competitive cricket.

The match will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network. Fans can also stream the game online via SonyLIV, FanCode, and YuppTV.

Shaheen Shah Afridi is Pakistan’s premier strike bowler and thrives with the new ball. In most matches, he can pick 1–2 wickets in the powerplay, but getting more than 2 wickets in the first 6 overs is uncommon, unless the opposition top order collapses early or the pitch offers swing.

So, while it’s possible, it’s not highly probable that he takes more than 2 wickets in the powerplay — expecting 1–2 is realistic.

The toss for the PAK vs BAN match will take place at 7:30 PM IST at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.