Bangladesh vs Pakistan T20I Match Preview – July 20, 2025, 6 PM (Mirpur)

Cricket fans around the world are set to witness an exciting clash as Bangladesh takes on Pakistan in the first T20 International of a three-match series. The match will begin at 6:00 PM local time at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. Both teams are keen to make a strong statement ahead of upcoming ICC tournaments.

Match Overview

Date:

July 20, 2025 (Today)

Time:

6:00 PM BST (Bangladesh Standard Time)

Venue:

Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka

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Head-to-Head Record (T20I)

• Total Matches Played: 22

• Pakistan Wins: 19

• Bangladesh Wins: 3

Despite Pakistan's dominance historically, Bangladesh will look to leverage their home advantage and recent improvements to challenge the visitors.

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Recent Form

Bangladesh

• Bangladesh has recently shown signs of improvement in white-ball cricket, defeating Sri Lanka in a T20 series 2-1.

• They have a mix of young talent and experienced players ready to prove themselves.

• However, Bangladesh was whitewashed 3-0 by Pakistan in their last T20 series meeting just months ago.

Pakistan

• Pakistan enters this series with high confidence after dominating Bangladesh in their previous encounters.

• Even without some of their key bowlers, Pakistan's T20 lineup remains strong, thanks to depth in both batting and bowling.

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Pitch and Weather Report

Pitch Condition

• The Sher-e-Bangla pitch in Mirpur is traditionally slow and low, favoring spinners.

• Average first-innings scores in T20Is here range between 135–150 runs.

• Batting becomes slightly easier under lights due to dew.

Weather Forecast

• Temperature: 30–31°C at match time

• Humidity: High (~77%)

• Rain: Slight chance of drizzle but no major interruptions expected.

• Dew factor could play a role in the second innings, making bowling challenging for spinners later in the game.

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Probable Playing XI

Bangladesh

1. Liton Das (c & wk)

2. Tanzid Hasan

3. Parvez Hossain Emon

4. Towhid Hridoy

5. Shamim Hossain

6. Jaker Ali

7. Mehidy Hasan Miraz

8. Rishad Hossain

9. Tanzim Hasan Sakib

10. Shoriful Islam

11. Mustafizur Rahman

Key Players to Watch:

• Liton Das: The captain and wicketkeeper is in excellent form and will be crucial at the top.

• Towhid Hridoy: Emerging as a reliable middle-order batter.

• Mustafizur Rahman: The Fizz is Bangladesh’s go-to bowler, especially in the death overs.

• Rishad Hossain: Bangladesh’s new spin sensation, especially effective on slow pitches.

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Pakistan

1. Saim Ayub

2. Fakhar Zaman

3. Mohammad Haris (wk)

4. Salman Ali Agha (c)

5. Khushdil Shah

6. Hasan Nawaz

7. Faheem Ashraf

8. Mohammad Nawaz

9. Abrar Ahmed

10. Abbas Afridi

11. Sufiyan Muqeem

Key Players to Watch:

• Fakhar Zaman: Explosive at the top of the order, capable of turning the game in the powerplay.

• Saim Ayub: Young left-hander known for fearless stroke play.

• Abrar Ahmed: Mystery spinner who can break partnerships.

• Faheem Ashraf: All-rounder who provides balance with bat and ball.

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Tactical Battle

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Strategy & Game Plan

Bangladesh’s Approach

• Aggressive start in the powerplay with Liton and Tanzid.

• Use spinners Rishad and Mehidy to choke runs in the middle overs.

• Mustafizur to lead the death bowling with his cutters and variations.

Pakistan’s Approach

• Attack with young openers Saim and Fakhar in the first six overs.

• Control the middle overs with spinners like Abrar and Muqeem.

• Finish strong with big hitters like Khushdil Shah and Hasan Nawaz.

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Toss Prediction

• Teams winning the toss might choose to bowl first because of the expected dew in the second innings.

• Historically, chasing has been successful at Mirpur due to slippery outfields later in the evening.

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Fantasy Cricket Tips

Top Picks:

• Liton Das: Consistent run-scorer at home.

• Saim Ayub: High-risk, high-reward player.

• Mustafizur Rahman: Excellent death bowler, great fantasy value.

• Abrar Ahmed: Can pick key middle-over wickets.

Captaincy Choice: Liton Das / Fakhar Zaman

Vice-Captaincy Choice: Mustafizur Rahman / Faheem Ashraf

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Series Schedule

1️⃣ 1st T20I – July 20, 2025 – Dhaka
2️⃣ 2nd T20I – July 22, 2025 – Dhaka
3️⃣ 3rd T20I – July 24, 2025 – Dhaka

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Broadcasting & Live Streaming

• TV Broadcast (Bangladesh): T Sports

• TV Broadcast (Pakistan): PTV Sports

• Streaming: FanCode (India), Tamasha App (Pakistan), Willow TV (USA), YouTube (varies by region)

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Match Prediction

While Pakistan holds a clear advantage in past head-to-head records, Bangladesh’s home conditions and spin-friendly pitch could balance the scales.

Predicted Scores:

• Bangladesh: 150–160 runs (bat first)

• Pakistan: 155–170 runs (bat first)

Win Prediction:

• Slight edge to Pakistan, but expect a close contest if Bangladesh’s bowlers strike early.

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Final Thoughts

This T20I series marks a crucial opportunity for both teams to prepare for upcoming ICC events. For Bangladesh, it’s about breaking the Pakistan jinx, while Pakistan looks to continue their T20I dominance.

The match promises thrills, high-pressure moments, and a great display of South Asian cricket rivalry.