Asia Cup 2023, Super Fours Match 1 | Bangladesh Predicted XI vs Pakistan

image-lm6rl3niBangladesh will be facing Pakistan in the first match of Super Four in Asia Cup 2023 (Source: AP Photos)

We are done and dusted with the Group stages of the coveted 2023 Asia Cup and will be greeted with the Super Four stages. The final four teams will compete against one another in a round robin format and the top two will lock horns in the main event of the competition. The first game of this phase will see Pakistan square off against Bangladesh at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. After a lot of speculations, Asian Cricket Council confirmed the shifting of the venue from Pallekele due to predicted poor weather conditions.

The Pakistan side topped the Group A stage with three points in the bucket. They steamrolled Nepal in the opener followed by a rain-washed clash with India. 

The Babar Azam-led unit have witnessed some ferocious bowling from the pacers so far in the competition. From the batting point of view, Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed have garnered a ton each. Imam-ul Haq was also in a very good touch before the Asia Cup 

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On contrary, Bangladesh did not start the 2023 Asia Cup campaign in the best possible way but managed to pull themselves up with a 89 runs victory against Afghanistan in match 4 of the group stages. They were bundled up for 163 in the first match against a lean Sri Lankan bowling attack without four of their first-choice bowlers. 

But the best part of the Tigers is that they thrusted with a victory, made three changes and got a formidable XI to topple the Afghan Atalans in their next assignment. A victory by a margin of 89 runs also acted as an equaliser for the thumping loss they received in their tournament opener.


Openers- Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz

This is the newest opening combination that we got to witness for Bangladesh and it turned out to be pure gold. Naim gave a very good start in the last game against Afghanistan while Miraz notched up a century in a winning cause. In the absence of Litton Das and Tamim Iqbal they have done a stellar job in the last game to steer the side to a victory.


Middle Order- Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim

Bangladesh have received a jolt after Najmul Hossain Shanto, their best in-form batter currently, was ruled out the remainder of the Asia Cup 2023 due to an hamstring pull. He notched up a brilliant century in the last game against the Atalans and that was one of the prime reasons why the Tigers made to the Super Fours. Therefore, one can expect some tweats in the Bangladesh playing XI against Pakistan. Litton Das, who is fit and back after missing the group stages due to fever is likely to replace Shanto in the middle order. Towhid Hridoy should be backed for his tempermant while Mushfiqur is a no-brainer unless any physical mishaps.


All-rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain and Shamim Hossain Patwari

Shakib the captain has to be there in the playing XI. He is the heart and core of this team. Afif Hossain and Shamim Hossain were roped in the playing XI in the last game and they should be retained. Afif is an exciting cricketers who can bowl some part-time finger spin too. Shamim announced himself in internatinal ODIs by a six off the first ball and is an X Factor.


Bowlers: Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud

The pace trinity is going to be the same for Bangladesh with Hasan Mahmud getting the nod ahead of Mustafizur Rahman. Taskin is the leader of this pack while Shoriful and Hasan being in the supporting roles. Shoriful brings the left-arm variation and has been good in the past couple of years while Hasan has the ability to hit consistent hard lengths.


Bangladesh Predicted XI against Pakistan

Mohammad Naim
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Litton Das
Towhid Hridoy
Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
Shakib Al Hasan (c)
Afif Hossain
Shamim Hossain Patwari
Taskin Ahmed
Shoriful Islam
Hasan Mahmud