The first Twenty20 International (T20I) match of the three-game series between Bangladesh and Pakistan will take place today at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram; however, the possibility of rain casts a shadow over the series.
More than a week has passed since the Tigresses began their training camp in Chattogram; nevertheless, the rain that has fallen over the past several days has made it difficult for both teams to continue their workouts. The weather forced the cancellation of Pakistan’s practise match against BCB XI, which was scheduled for October 23. Yesterday’s events, including the presenting of the trophy and a press conference, were forced to be shifted inside of a hotel because of the threat of rain.
“We do not have any influence over the weather. We will head out to the field after going through the same kinds of preparations that we do every time before heading out. The match will be played as scheduled if there are no major disruptions. “The wicket appears to be in good condition, and we always want sporting wickets in which both teams can gain an advantage,” the captain of the Bangladeshi team, Nigar Sultana Joty, stated in yesterday’s news conference.
The recent one-day international (ODI) record of Bangladesh against Pakistan has been encouraging, as they have won four of the most recent five ODIs between the two teams. The Twenty20 Internationals, on the other hand, have witnessed a change in Bangladesh’s fortunes, as they have beaten Pakistan once in the last five encounters.
Joty has not given up optimism that their preparations will bear fruit if the matches are allowed to take place despite the inclement weather.
“Over the past few years, whenever we have played Pakistan, whether it was a Twenty20 International or a One-Day International, we have come out on top. We got here ahead of schedule so that we could get ready and get a feel for the wickets. Therefore, something positive will take place if we are able to play better cricket on the day,” Joty remarked.
It is possible for spinners to find some success in the series, and the captain of the Pakistani team, Nida Dar, claimed that Bangladesh is “definitely a very good side” and that they have “good spinners” along with “senior players who are always performing.” We are aware of both our own and their capabilities, so we can only hope that the matches go well.
The same location is scheduled to host the second and third Twenty20 Internationals, which will take place on October 27 and 29, respectively.