After Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan, the country will return the favour next month as they travel to Bangladesh for a three-match T20I series beginning July 20, in what promises to be a high-stakes contest between two sides looking to fine-tune combinations ahead of a packed international calendar. The tour has been confirmed by Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha.
The tour comes shortly after Bangladesh visited Pakistan for a three-match T20I series which concluded yesterday, where the home side swept the series 3-0. Pakistan looked in strong rhythm across all three games, with their bowling attack dominating and the batters finding their groove.
Now, with Bangladesh hosting the return leg, conditions are expected to pose a fresh challenge for Pakistan’s young squad. Pitches in Bangladesh tend to offer slower surfaces, bringing spin heavily into play. Bangladesh will be eager to hit back, especially on home soil where they’ve traditionally been much more competitive in the T20 format.
The first T20I will reportedly be played on July 20, followed by the second and third games on July 22 and July 24, respectively. Venues are expected to be finalized shortly.
Following the Bangladesh tour, Pakistan will travel to face the West Indies for a white-ball series which includes three T20Is and three ODIs beginning July 31.
With the focus on the ICC T20 World Cup next year, this sequence of away tours is a critical opportunity for the selectors and team management to identify a core group of players capable of handling different conditions. Mike Hesson’s era has begun on a positive note, and the Kiwi coach will be hoping to keep the good times rolling in his first away tours.
Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh will be watched closely—not just for the result, but for the team’s ability to adapt and assert itself in away conditions as they shape up for a pivotal 12 months in white-ball cricket.
