Pak lock horns with in-form Bangladesh

Pakistan’s cricket team will have their task cut out when they take on a spirited Bangladesh in their opening World Twenty20 Group 2 contest at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.

Bangladesh topped their group in the qualifying round by beating the Netherlands and Oman. Their game against Ireland in Dharamsala was rained out. But in both matches they won, Bangladesh impressed in every department. Against the Netherlands they survived a bit of a scare but nonetheless they had the strong will to bag the match by eight runs. Against Oman, Tamim Iqbal stole the limelight. The left-hander blasted an unbeaten 63-ball 103 and almost batted the opposition out of the match. Bangladesh won the game with 54 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method. Prior to the qualifiers, they also had a brilliant outing in the Asia Cup. The ‘Tigers’ hunted down rivals Pakistan and then Sri Lanka. However, India tamed them in the final, clinching it by eight wickets.

The Bangladeshi bowling looks great with the likes of Taskin Ahmed and Al Amin Hossain lighting it up with their pace and then Shakib Al Hasan and captain Mashrafe Mortaza backing them up with their experience. Bangladesh have been missing their pacer Mustafizur Rahman since the Asia Cup final because of a side strain. But he is likely to make a comeback on Wednesday. The youngster will love to bowl on the Eden wicket where he might just get enough purchase with his cutters and slower balls.