Pakistan managed to avoid the embarrassment of a complete whitewash in their T20I series against Bangladesh by securing a convincing victory in the third and final match held in Dhaka on Thursday. After suffering defeats in the opening two games, the visitors bounced back with a spirited performance, led by opener Sahibzada Farhan, who scored a blistering 63, and a disciplined bowling display that dismantled Bangladesh’s batting line-up. The win gave Pakistan a consolation triumph to end the series on a positive note before returning home.
Earlier this year, Pakistan had outclassed Bangladesh in a T20I series played on home soil, but when the roles were reversed, they struggled to adapt to the Dhaka conditions, leading to their losses in the first two matches. However, the team showed significant improvement in the final match. The performance was particularly important, given the absence of senior players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi, whose experience and consistency were sorely missed. Stepping up under pressure, skipper Salman Ali Agha and his squad delivered when it mattered most.
Speaking after the match, Salman expressed satisfaction with his team’s resilience and determination, stating, "Very proud, this is what we talk about as a team. We don't want to give up and today we played well." His words reflected the team’s relief and pride at ending the series on a high.
Despite the loss, Bangladesh could still take pride in having already won the series, marking their first-ever T20I series victory over Pakistan. It also ended their recent four-match winning streak in T20Is. Nevertheless, Litton Das was the one to receive the winner’s trophy at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, underscoring the significance of the overall series win for the home side.
Batting first after losing the toss, Pakistan’s innings got off to a strong start. Sahibzada Farhan, playing his first match of the series, made the most of his opportunity by smashing 63 runs off 41 balls, hitting six boundaries and five sixes. He formed an aggressive 82-run partnership with Saim Ayub, who chipped in with 21 off 21 balls, giving Pakistan momentum in the powerplay. The middle order continued the aggressive tone, with Hasan Nawaz scoring 33 off just 17 deliveries and Mohammad Nawaz adding a valuable 27 off 16. Captain Salman Ali Agha provided a tidy finish, helping Pakistan post a competitive total of 178 for 7.
In reply, Bangladesh’s chase crumbled early. The hosts lost wickets in clusters and found themselves struggling at 41 for 7 within just eight overs. Pakistan’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure from the start. Salman Mirza was the standout performer, grabbing three wickets for just 19 runs. Faheem Ashraf contributed with figures of 2 for 13, while Hussain Talat, Ahmed Daniyal, and captain Salman Ali Agha each took a wicket to ensure no breathing space for the Bangladesh batters.
The only resistance from the Bangladeshi side came from wicketkeeper Mohammad Saifuddin, who scored a fighting 35 off 34 balls. Apart from him, only Mohammad Naim managed to reach double digits as the home team was bundled out for 104 in 16.4 overs.
Pakistan fielded a slightly altered playing XI, introducing new faces at the top of the order. The decision paid off, with Farhan’s explosive half-century anchoring the innings. The contributions from both Nawazes and Agha’s late hitting gave them the boost they needed, which was followed by a clinical bowling performance that sealed the victory.
Although Bangladesh rested five of their first-choice players after clinching the series, the team they fielded was still competitive on paper. However, their batting lineup failed to withstand the pressure of Pakistan’s determined bowling attack and collapsed without offering any significant fightback.
