The defending champions Bangladesh will now face Pakistan on Monday, a more competitive team to test their strength.
Bangladesh began their Women`s Asia Cup 2022 campaign with a 9-wicket win over Thailand while Pakistan`s women’s side registered a big win over Malaysia in their first match, showing their ability as a team.
Let`s take a look at the Bangladesh vs Pakistan match preview.
The Bangladesh women`s team has won nine of its first 10 games in 2022, which is an exceptional run of form. They also recently won the ICC Women`s T20 Qualifier 2022 competition in the United Arab Emirates without losing a game. However, all of Bangladesh`s triumphs this year have come over opponents whom they had predicted to prevail. The game against Sri Lanka in June was the only one they have lost this year.
Pakistan`s women’s team, on the other hand, has won five matches and lost three in 2022. They whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 in a bilateral series in May and won a couple of matches against associate nations. However, Pakistan have found it difficult to compete with bigger rivals like Australia and India.
Given both sides` recent international performances, the squad strengths of Bangladesh and Pakistan seem quite similar. The Bangladesh women’s team will try to take advantage of home conditions. Pakistani players are also used to playing in these conditions and will try to put their game plan into action on the field.
The spinners will be crucial to the match since the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium`s wicket is anticipated to favor slower bowlers. It will be important to keep wickets in hand in order to attack the bowlers in the final five overs. Therefore, one of the top batters on both teams must play the anchor role in each of their respective innings.
Bangladesh and Pakistan are unlikely to alter their winning lineups unless an injury issue emerges ahead of the match. The game will begin at 9 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) on October 3.
Bangladesh’s predicted playing XI
Shamima Sultana (wicket-keeper), Fargana Hoque, Nigar Sultana (captain), Rumana Ahmed, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Salma Khatun, Nahida Akter, Shohely Akhter, Sanjida Akter Meghla, Jahanara Alam Pakistan’s predicted playing XI Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Sidra Ameen, Bismah Maroof (captain), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Ayesha Naseem, Aliya Riaz, Tuba Hassan, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
Pakistan Women vs Bangladesh Women: Head-to-Head Record
The only time Bangladesh`s women’s cricket team has won against Pakistan`s women’s cricket team in T20I was in the 2018 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur, the tournament which eventually the tigress won. Overall, both sides have met each other on 15 occasions, in which Pakistan have won 14 matches.
Verdict
After Bangladesh and Pakistan both earned big victories in their respective opening games of the Women`s Asia Cup 2022, both teams will enter tomorrow`s contest with a great deal of confidence. Since Pakistan have a better overall head-to-head record, they might be considered the favourites going into this game. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have improved as a team in recent times.
Besides, the tigresses will use their famous Asia Cup victory over Pakistan four years ago as motivation.
