Pak vs Ban | Match Introduction:
31st October 2023, at the Eden Gardens International Cricket Stadium Kolkata, India. A very important match between Bangladesh and Pakistan, Bangladesh’s captain Shakib ul Hassan won the toss and chose to bat.
The playing 11 for both Pakistan and Bangladesh teams are as follows.
Pakistan (Playing XI):
- Abdullah Shafique
- Fakhar Zaman
- Babar Azam(c)
- Mohammad Rizwan(w)
- Saud Shakeel
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Agha Salman
- Shaheen Afridi
- Usama Mir
- Mohammad Wasim Jr
- Haris Rauf
Bangladesh (Playing XI):
- Litton Das
- Tanzid Hasan
- Najmul Hossain Shanto
- Shakib Al Hasan(c)
- Mushfiqur Rahim(w)
- Mahmudullah
- Towhid Hridoy
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Taskin Ahmed
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Shoriful Islam
First Innings Pak vs Ban: Batting Brilliance and Bowling Mastery
From Bangladesh’s side, Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan came to open, but Shaheen’s excellent bowling started with a wicket in the very first over, dismissing Tanzid lbw without making any runs.
This early blow put Bangladesh’s team under pressure. Following that, Najmul Hossain Shanto came in but couldn’t do anything significant. In Shaheen’s second over, he got out due to an excellent catch by Usama Mir.
Then, Haris Rauf didn’t allow Mushfiqur Rahim to score many runs and quickly got him out. Three players from Bangladesh were out for 23 runs, and Pakistan put full pressure on them.
However, later, Litton Das and Mahmudullah’s fantastic partnership provided much-needed support, and Bangladesh made a good comeback. But once again, an impressive display of captaincy by Babar was seen as he brought Iftikhar in for bowling, and he swiftly dismissed Mahmudullah with exceptional bowling.
Bangladesh found themselves under pressure once more. Afterwards, Shakib Al Hasan provided some rescue to the team, but Bangladesh kept losing wickets, and once again, Pakistan displayed exceptional bowling and fielding.
Haris Rauf took 2 wickets, Usama Mir took 1, and towards the end, Wasim Jr delivered outstanding bowling to dismiss Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, and Mustafizur Rahman, getting the entire Bangladesh team all out for 204 runs in 45.1 overs.
This was due to Shaheen’s brilliant bowling, securing three wickets and becoming the top bowler of the tournament. Moreover, he achieved the fastest 100 wickets milestone in just 51 matches.
Only four players from Bangladesh managed to score in double figures. Mahmudullah scored 56 runs off 70 balls, Litton Das scored 45 runs off 64 balls, Shakib Al Hasan scored 43 runs off 64 balls, and Mehidy Hasan scored 25 runs off 30 balls.
Second Innings of Pak vs Ban: The Chase Begins
Pakistan’s opening was led by Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique. Fakhar Zaman played an outstanding inning, completely punishing the Bangladesh bowlers. He ruthlessly smashed sixes, causing havoc with his batting. While displaying a destructive batting performance, Fakhar hit 7 sixes and 3 fours, scoring a remarkable 81 runs in a fantastic inning. It was an excellent comeback for Fakhar Zaman after his injury.
Abdullah Shafique also did not fall short; he played a fantastic inning, scoring 68 runs, which included 2 amazing sixes and 9 excellent fours. Throughout the World Cup, Abdullah displayed outstanding batting performances.
Today, Captain Babar Azam played attacking cricket but got out after scoring 9 runs. However, after that, Rizwan and Iftikhar finished the game well, and Pakistan won the match in 32.3 overs. It was a remarkable batting display from Pakistan.
Mehidy Hasan was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh, taking 3 wickets while conceding 60 runs in 9 overs.
Pakistan performed well in all departments, rekindling hopes for a semi-final spot, which seemed challenging initially. Cricket is unpredictable, and anything can happen at any time. Pakistan’s convincing victory over Bangladesh earned them valuable points.
Key Performances: Stars of the Match
The player of the match was awarded to Fakhar Zaman for his destructive batting, leading Pakistan to second place for hitting 7 sixes in a single inning of the World Cup. The first record is held by Imran Nazir, who hit 8 sixes in a single inning of the World Cup. Fakhar made a splendid comeback after his injury, contributing significantly to the team’s important victory.
Game-Changing Moments: Turning the Tide
The game-changing moment was Shaheen taking wickets in his first two overs and pakistan securing three wickets in the first powerplay, proving beneficial for Pakistan. This put immense pressure on the Bangladesh team throughout the entire match.
Tactical Insights: Strategies and Shifting Alliances
Today, once again, Babar Azam exhibited exceptional captaincy and made timely decisions, just as he did in the game against South Africa. The changes made in bowling were excellent and proved to be outstanding moves by Babar Azam.
Victory and Defeat in Pak vs Ban match: The Final Verdict
After 4 consecutive losses, Pakistan managed to secure a win. The Pakistani team was extremely elated. Prior to this victory, following defeats against South Africa, Australia, India, and Afghanistan, the Pakistani team was under immense pressure, making this win incredibly important.
Fan Reactions and Social Buzz
Babar Azam was visibly popular on social media and at the ground. When the camera focused on Babar Azam, the Kolkata crowd started chanting ‘Babar, Babar,’ displaying their support and happiness for Babar. They showed great appreciation when Babar hit his first drive for a boundary. Babar received considerable support on social media as well. Former players from around the world were also seen showing support for Babar.
Reference
Most of the data we have collected is by visually watching the live match and used previous knowledge many of the content can be verified from the ICC official Website.
