Pitch and weather: Conditions at the Gaddafi Stadium tend to be batting-friendly, with the last five ODIs here producing three 300-plus first-innings totals as well as Sri Lanka’s 291 against Afghanistan on Tuesday. The weather is expected to be hot and dry, with temperatures in the mid-30s Celsius.
Pakistan vs Bangladesh Highlights 2023, Wednesday 6-9-2023, 7th Match Asia Cup, Super Four (D/N), Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Shakib: “If we put runs on the board, it will put pressure on them. We want to replicate what we did against Afghanistan but we are facing the No. 1 team in the world so we need to play our best. We know what their strengths and weaknesses are. We have to face those challenges but we are up for those challenges. Litton replaces Shanto.”
Babar: “We would have batted also. But the pitch has a little bit grass so we want to use that. We plan to look after all the fast bowlers. We are playing in the heat. To be honest I am looking forward to the match. Will try to break the record but will look to win the match. Last night we saw the conditions helped fast bowlers so we think about adding a fast bowler. Sometimes in the night and the first innings it helps the fast bowlers.”
Toss: Bangladesh will bat first.
Pakistan team: Fakhar, Imam, Babar (capt), Rizwan (wk), Salman, Iftikhar, Shadab, Faheem, Shaheen, Naseem, Rauf.
Bangladesh team: Naim, Mehidy, Litton, Hridoy, Shakib (c), Mushfiqur †, Shamim, Afif, Taskin, Shoriful, Hasan.
Head to Head In ODI’s: 37
Pakistan Won: 32
Bangladesh Won: 5
Pakistan ODI Rankings: 1st
Bangladesh ODI Rankings: 7th
Form guide
(last five completed ODI’s, most recent first)
Pakistan NR-WWWW
Bangladesh WLWLL
Match Timings: 9:30 AM GMT | 2:30 PM Local
Umpires – Ahmed Shah Pakteen, Langton Rusere
TV Umpire – Chris Gaffaney
Match Referee – David Boon
Reserve Umpire – Asif Yaqoob
Match number – ODI no. 4634
Shakib Al Hasan:
“We lost early wickets in the start and we played some ordinary shots. On a wicket like this we shouldn’t lose four wickets in the first ten overs, but it happens. Our partnership was good, thought we needed to bat 7-8 more overs. Very poor batting display on a surface like this but we have to move on to the next one. They are the no.1 team and these are the reasons. They have three world class bowlers who are making things easier for them.
We have been doing well in the bowling department but batting is a bit hot and cold. We need to be more consistently. I thought our three seamers bowled brilliantly. Like Pakistan, our seamers have been bowling very well in the last couple of years. But unfortunately on a pitch like this you can’t get wickets unless batters make mistakes. [On playing in SL] When I played in LPL, pitches were a bit slow, wickets were a little up and down and that should help us. So hopefully we will do well in Colombo.”
Imam-ul-Haq:
“I would say not one of my fluent innings. We thought it was going to be a good batting wicket but it was seaming around so we were surprised but I have worked on my back foot game against spinners and I am happy with that. [On trying to score quicker for NRR] We discussed about it and we had a plan. We thought we can just chase in 36 overs and intentions were clear about it. We thought we had the chance and we were fortunate enough to close the match as early as possible. [On the pacers] They are remarkable and I just want them to bowl this way for the next two months.”
Babar Azam:
“[On the fast bowlers] Credit to all the boys, especially the first ten overs. How they are bowling in the first ten overs and then Haris Rauf is also bowling really well. [On Faheem Ashraf] Yes we saw the games and fast bowlers were getting a little bit help and Faheem bowled really well. Winning always gives you confidence. [On the team feeling pressure] I don’t think so. We are just giving our best in every match.”
Haris Rauf is the player of the match:
“It was hot but as a professional you have to manage these things. I’ve played quite a bit of cricket here. Home field. People here had expectations that we perform like this. So happy we won like this. We plan for any team as a bowling unit and discuss our roles. We try to execute the roles given to us. [On bowling back of length] On Lahore wickets you try to bowl stump-to-stump. I didn’t go for the yorker as it wasn’t needed. You have your goals in mind but you just keep working hard and try to give your best performance for the team.”
