Pakistan thrash Bangladesh to seal 3-0 T20I series whitewash

Mohammad Haris' blazing ton helped Pakistan secure a comfortable win over Bangladesh in the third and final T20I, completing a dominant 3-0 whitewash here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Bangladesh set a competitive total of 196-6 in their allotted 20 overs, however, Pakistan reached home after losing only three wickets in 17.2 overs. 

Pakistan had a shaky start when opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for just 1 run off 4 deliveries by Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the first over.

However, any early concerns were quickly eased as Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub formed a formidable second-wicket partnership that turned the momentum squarely in Pakistan’s favour.

The duo launched a counterattack, striking frequent boundaries and bringing the score to 56-1 at the end of the powerplay.

Their aggressive intent was on full display as they built a 92-run partnership, with Saim Ayub contributing a brisk 45 off 29 balls before falling to Tanzim Hasan at 100-2 in 9.5 overs.

Unfazed by the dismissal, Haris continued to dominate the bowling, reaching his fifty off just 29 balls, and then stepping up the tempo further.

Hasan Nawaz joined him and scored 26 off 13 balls with two boundaries before being dismissed by Mehidy Hasan at 137-3 in the 13th over.

With Pakistan firmly in control, captain Agha Salman provided steady support while Haris remained the centerpiece of the innings. Haris brought up his maiden T20I century in sensational style, reaching the milestone in just 45 balls.

His unbeaten 107 off 46 balls featured eight fours and seven sixes, leaving the Bangladeshi bowlers with no answers.

Pakistan comfortably chased down the target in 17.1 overs, sealing the match and the series in emphatic fashion.

Skipper Agha chipped in with 14 not out off 11 balls, helping to finish the job alongside the player of the match, Haris.

The victory caps off a comprehensive 3-0 sweep for Pakistan and highlights the emergence of Mohammad Haris as a key figure in the team’s T20 setup.

His performance not only thrilled the home crowd but also set the tone for Pakistan’s upcoming international fixtures.

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Bangladesh’s openers set the tone with an aggressive start, dominating Pakistan’s bowling attack.

Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon stitched together a commanding partnership, scoring 53 runs without loss in the powerplay.

Emon raced to a splendid T20I half-century off just 27 deliveries, helping Bangladesh reach 80-0 in eight overs.

The duo continued their strong form to reach a 100-run opening stand by the 11th over, tearing through Faheem Ashraf’s bowling with a series of boundaries. 

However, Faheem managed to break the partnership by dismissing Tanzid Hasan, who scored 42 off 32 balls, including three boundaries and three sixes. The score read 110 for 1 at 10.4 overs.

Shadab Khan struck soon after, claiming Parvez’s wicket at 113 for 2 in 11.1 overs. Parvez had scored a brilliant 66 off 34 deliveries.

Bangladesh skipper Litton Das joined Towhid Hridoy at the crease, and both contributed important runs.

Hridoy began aggressively to maintain the momentum, while Das provided steady support.

The pair guided Bangladesh past the 150-run mark in the 15th over, mixing boundaries and smart strike rotation.

Hasan Ali broke the partnership by dismissing Das, who scored 22 off 18 balls, with the score at 162 for 3 in 16.3 overs.

Shamim Hossain came in and immediately impressed with back-to-back boundaries off Hasan Ali’s bowling.

However, Abbas Afridi soon removed him for 8 runs off 4 balls, marking Abbas’s first wicket in the match. Bangladesh were 171 for 4 in 17.3 overs.

Abbas Afridi struck again in the same over, dismissing Towhid Hridoy for 25 runs off 18 deliveries, putting a dent in Bangladesh’s hopes of surpassing 200.

In the final overs, Jakeer Ali provided crucial late runs, including back-to-back boundaries off Faheem Ashraf, helping Bangladesh register their highest T20I total against Pakistan.

Hasan Ali returned for the final over and took his second wicket by dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz for one, leaving Bangladesh at 184-6.

Bangladesh finished their innings with Jakeer Ali unbeaten on 15 off 9 balls and Tanzim Hasan Sakib contributing eight off three deliveries.

For Pakistan, Hasan Ali and Abbas Afridi were the standout bowlers with two wickets each, while Faheem Ashraf and Shadab Khan took one wicket apiece.

Earlier, Pakistan's skipper Salman Agha won the toss and decided to field first.

Both teams have made notable changes to their playing XIs in response to injuries and match strategies.

Pakistan, who lead the series 2-0 after the first two matches at the same venue, called in fast bowler Abbas Afridi in place of Haris Rauf.

Bangladesh were forced to bring in pace bowler Khaled Ahmed for his T20I debut in place of the injured Shoriful Islam.

Pakistan's fast bowler Haris Rauf has been ruled out due to injury.

Salman Agha, speaking ahead of the match, expressed his satisfaction with the playing conditions.

"The pitch looks very good today as well. We’re happy to get the opportunity to bowl first," he said.

He emphasized the team’s intent to restrict Bangladesh to a low total, capitalizing on favorable bowling conditions.

On the other side, Bangladesh captain Liton Das confirmed that the team has also been forced to make a change due to injury.

Pacer Sharif Islam, who sustained an injury, has been replaced by Khaled Ahmed in the lineup.

Playing XIs

 Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (c), Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Abrar Ahmed

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (c), Parvez Hossain Emon (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed

Umpires: Ahsan Raza (PAK) and Asif Yaqoob (PAK)

TV umpire: Faisal Afridi (PAK)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)