Bangladesh rock Pakistan early in do-or-die clash

It may not be officially labelled a semi-final, but the stakes are clear: win and reach the final, lose and go home. Bangladesh entered the high-pressure match against Pakistan with three changes, bringing in Taskin Ahmed and Sheikh Mehedi Hasan in place of Saifuddin and Nasum Ahmed.

The reshuffle paid off instantly. Both Taskin and Mehedi struck in their opening overs to dismantle Pakistan’s top order.

In the very first over, Sahibzada Farhan fell for 4 off 4 balls, caught by Rishad Hossain at backward point off Taskin. One over later, Sheikh Mehedi struck as Saim Ayub, yet to score, handed a catch to Rishad at mid-off.

By the third over, Pakistan were reeling at 9 for 2, with Fakhar Zaman on 5 and captain Salman Agha yet to open his account.

Bangladesh XI: Saif Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tahid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain Patwary, Zaker Ali Anik (capt/wk), Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Tanjim Hasan Shakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.

Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (capt), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.