Pakistan is attempting to maintain its winning streak in the 50-over format against Bangladesh. Historically, Pakistan has secured 34 victories out of 39 ODIs played against Bangladesh, making them the dominant side in this matchup.
The first match of the Dutch-Bangla Bank ODI Series 2026 is taking place at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. The match is scheduled to commence at 1:45 PM IST (2:15 PM local time). Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan.
Team News
Bangladesh’s captain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, leads a squad eager to make a mark after missing the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The playing XI includes notable players such as Litton Das and Taskin Ahmed.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s captain Shaheen Afridi confirmed three debutants for this opening ODI, with Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, and Shamyl Hussain included in the playing XI.
Weather and Pitch Conditions
Weather officials in Dhaka have warned of scattered thunderstorms on the match day, which could impact play. The pitch at Shere Bangla National Stadium is known to assist spinners as the match progresses, potentially influencing the game strategy for both teams.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz expressed confidence in his team’s preparation, stating, “Yeah, definitely. It was an excellent start.” He emphasized the importance of every match, particularly in the context of qualifying for the World Cup.
Miraz also noted, “If you bowl in the right area all the times, definitely it’s been difficult to because pace is there,” indicating the challenges faced by bowlers on the pitch.
As the match unfolds, observers will be keen to see how both teams adapt to the conditions and the performance of the debutants in Pakistan’s squad. Following this match, there are two more matches remaining in the series, which will further shape the competition between these two teams.
