On a steamy Sunday afternoon, July 20, 2025, at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Bangladesh’s pace duo Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman turned the Mirpur pitch into a graveyard for Pakistan’s batters.
In a stunning display of seam and swing, the Tigers bowled out the visitors for a paltry 110 in 19.3 overs in the first T20I of a three-match series. With just 111 runs needed to seize the opener, Bangladesh stand poised to roar, thanks to Taskin’s fiery 3/22 and Mustafizur’s miserly 2/6.
The Mirpur track, known for its low bounce and occasional turn, became a pacer’s paradise under Taskin and Mustafizur’s command. From the first ball, Bangladesh’s bowlers exploited the conditions, leaving Pakistan’s star-studded lineup gasping. Captain Litton Das, fresh off a T20I series win in Sri Lanka, won the toss and unleashed spin to set the tone, but it was the pace attack that stole the show.
Sheikh Mahedi Hasan struck early, tempting Fakhar Zaman (4) into a reckless slog sweep in the first over. The ball soared to short fine leg, where Taskin, redeeming an earlier dropped catch in a recent ODI, held firm to spark wild cheers. Pakistan were rattled, and the Tigers smelled blood.
Taskin’s second over started shakily, bleeding 9 runs in four balls, but the right-armer found his rhythm on the fifth. Saim Ayub (6 off 4) flicked a delivery to fine leg, where Mustafizur snagged a sharp catch, igniting the crowd. The third over saw Mahedi claim Mohammad Haris (4 off 3), caught by Shamim Patwary at cow corner after a mistimed drive. Pakistan were wobbling at 32/2.
The fifth over brought more drama as Tanzim Hasan Shakib bamboozled Pakistan captain Salman Agha (3 off 9). After four consecutive dots, Agha’s desperate scoop landed in Litton’s gloves, leaving Pakistan reeling. Mustafizur, the “Fizz,” entered the fray in the sixth over, dismissing Hasan Nawaz for a duck before he could settle. By the power play’s end, Pakistan were a shaky 41/4, their top order in tatters.
Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan’s lone warrior, fought valiantly, hammering 44 off 34 balls with four fours and a six. But his vigil ended in heartbreak in Mustafizur’s over, as a mix-up with Khushdil Shah saw Taskin’s pinpoint throw to Litton break the stumps at the striker’s end. Earlier, Mohammad Nawaz (3) fell to a similar fate, run out after a miscommunication, with Mahedi dismantling the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Pakistan slumped to 46/5 before reaching 50.
Khushdil Shah (18 off 23) tried to anchor the innings but succumbed to Mustafizur’s trademark slower ball, miscuing to Rishad Hossain at mid-off. Faheem Ashraf (5 off 9) became Taskin’s third victim, capping a spell that blended raw pace with cunning variation. Pakistan’s tail offered little resistance, folding in 19.3 overs for 110.
Taskin’s 3/22 in four overs was a masterclass in aggression, while Mustafizur’s 2/6—conceding just 1.5 runs per over—showcased his guile. Tanzim and Mahedi chipped in with a wicket each, but the pace duo’s dominance defined the day.
Coming off a T20I series win in Sri Lanka despite Test and ODI losses, Bangladesh swapped Shoriful Islam for Taskin, a move that paid dividends. Pakistan, who bested the Tigers in their last T20I encounter at home, now face an uphill battle on Bangladesh’s turf.
As Bangladesh prepare to chase 111, the Mirpur crowd buzzes with anticipation.
With Litton Das leading a dynamic batting lineup, the Tigers are favourites to take a 1-0 lead. But in T20 cricket, no target is safe, and Pakistan’s bowlers will fight to keep their team alive. For now, Taskin and Mustafizur have set the stage for a potential Bangladeshi triumph, proving that on their day, the Tigers’ roar is deafening.
Bangladesh XI: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (capt & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (capt), Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed