Champions ODI Cup 2025

Match 9: PAK vs BAN

Preview 

As the Champions ODI Cup progresses, Pakistan will play Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 27 at 2:30 PM. Both teams have struggled to make an impact in the tournament and will thus be eager to end their campaigns with a win.

Pakistan, currently languishing at the bottom of the Group A standings, suffered a major setback in their last match against fierce rivals India, who bagged a convincing six-wicket victory. Despite the disappointing outcome, Saud Shakeel’s dogged 62-run knock was a rare positive for the Shaheens. 

Bangladesh, on the other hand, also faced a difficult challenge in their most recent fixture against the Kiwis. Najmul Hossain Shanto's plucky 77-run knock went in vain, as the Black Caps secured a five-wicket win, sending Bangladesh to third place in the group.

Match Details

Match: PAK vs BAN, 9th Match, Group A, Champions ODI Cup, 2025

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025

Time: 2:30 PM

Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Squad News

Pakistan: Could the hosts leave out one of their ace quick bowlers to give Faheem Ashraf or Mohammad Hasnain an opportunity? They also have batting alternatives in Kamrah Ghulam and Usman Khan. 

Bangladesh: Bangladesh will likely go with the same eleven that fielded against New Zealand.  

Pitch and Weather Report

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is expected to be slower, considering the humid climate, with the pacers receiving assistance. If we go by the recent trend, pacers have found success at this wicket. But as the match progresses, the surface is likely to assist batters. Spinners could prove handy with some grip and turn on the surface when it starts to deteriorate.  

PAK vs BAN Squads

PAK: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Khan, Faheem Ashraf

BAN: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Tanzid Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed , Soumya Sarkar

PAK vs BAN Probable Playing XIs

PAK: Imam-ul-Haq/Usman Khan, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi/Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

BAN:  Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tohwid Hridoy, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana

Match Prediction

Both teams have been outplayed in all departments in this competition so far. Bangladesh still managed to give a fight but Pakistan as host has been utterly disappointing. In neither the game against NZ nor the one against arch-rivals India, there was once where Pakistan looked in control. They have quality in their ranks but have failed to click as a unit. Bangladesh on the other, has not shied away from tough challenges. First, they made India work hard to earn a win, then showed tremendous resilience against the Kiwis. They are yet to open their account but there have been several instances in the tournament where they’ve looked to run away with the game. 

We are backing the hosts to win this one. They will just edge past a spirited Bangladesh side. 

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