Pakistan’s nightmare continues in Bangladesh

DHAKA: Pakistan’s miserable tour of Bangladesh continued as the hosts recorded their first-ever Twenty20 win over the rivals with a seven-wicket romp in Dhaka on Friday.
Debutant seamer Mustafizur Rahman took two for 20 in four overs as Pakistan, electing to bat after winning the toss, were restricted to 141 for five at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman then plundered unbeaten half-centuries as Bangladesh, cheered from the stands by their Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, surpassed the target in the 17th over.
Shakib hit an unbeaten 57 off 41 balls and Sabbir made 51 not out to build on their team’s 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan in the preceding one-day series.
The pair put on 105 runs for the fourth wicket after Bangladesh appeared to be in a spot of bother at 38 for three.
Bangladesh, who had lost both their previous Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan, turned the tables with a superb performance. Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also praised Bangladesh for their dominant display.
“They are in such a great momentum,” said Afridi.
“We have to learn from the way Bangladesh played.”
He added that Pakistan are a more balanced side in Tests and will be strengthened by the return of experienced batsman Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan.
“I think our team is balanced in Test cricket. Misbah and Younis will be back for Tests.”
Mustafizur grabbed the key wickets of Afridi and senior all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez during a tidy spell.
Pakistan’s debutant Mukhtar Ahmed top-scored with 37 off 30 balls and left-hander Haris Sohail made an unbeaten 30, but the tourists struggled to tame the bowling.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad plodded to 17 from 31 balls and Afridi was unlucky to be given out caught behind for 12 when replays showed the ball missing the edge of the bat.
Pakistan were 77 for three in 12.1 overs before Sohail and Hafeez (26) boosted the total by adding 49 for the fourth wicket.
Bangladesh lost three wickets cheaply, including the vital one of Tamin Iqbal.
But Shakib and Sabbir hammered the Pakistan bowlers to all parts of the ground.
“Nice moment for us. We have been waiting for this for the past 6-7 months,” said Bangladesh captain Mortaza. “We have been working hard. I am sure that the boys will deliver in Tests too.”
Score Board
Pakistan won toss
Pakistan
Mukhtar Ahmed st Mushfiqur b Sunny 37
Ahmed Shehzad c Mortaza b Taskin 17
*Shahid Afridi c Mushfiqur b Mustafizur 12
Haris Sohail not out 30
Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Mustafizur 26
Sohail Tanvir run out 8
Extras (b 2, lb 5, w 4) 11
Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 141
Did not bat: Mohammad Rizwan, †Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal
Fall: 1-50, 2-64, 3-77, 4-126, 5-141
Bowling: Mustafizur 4-0-20-2(2w); Shakib 4-0-17-0; Mortaza 4-0-29-0; Sunny 2-0-23-1(1w); Taskin 4-0-29-1; Nasir 2-0-16-0(1w)
Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal c Hafeez b Gul 14
Soumya Sarkar run out 0
Shakib Al Hasan not out 57
†Mushfiqur Rahim b Riaz 19
Sabbir Rahman not out 51
Extras (lb 1, w 1) 2
Total (3 wickets; 16.2 overs) 143
Did not bat: Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, *Mashrafe Mortaza, Arafat Sunny, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Fall: 1-14, 2-17, 3-38
Bowling: Hafeez 1-0-14-0; Tanvir 3-0-16-0(1w); Gul 2-0-23-1; Ajmal 3.2-0-25-0; Riaz 4-0-39-1; Afridi 3-0-25-0
Result: Bangladesh won by 7 wickets
T20I debuts: Mustafizur Rahman and Soumya Sarkar (Bangladesh); Mohammad Rizwan and Mukhtar Ahmed (Pakistan)
Man of the Match: Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh)
Umpires: Anisur Rahman and Sharfuddoula. TV umpire: Enamul Haque. Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand)