Bangladesh made a sharp, confident start to the ODI series against Pakistan, brushing aside the visitors by eight wickets in Mirpur after bowling them out for just 114. It was the kind of result that leaves very little room for spin. Pakistan were not narrowly beaten or edged out in a tense finish. They were thoroughly outplayed.
For a brief moment, Pakistan looked settled. They had moved to 41 without loss and seemed to have given themselves a base. Then the innings fell apart. Nahid Rana ripped through the top and middle order with a five-wicket haul, and Pakistan went from relative control to deep trouble in a matter of overs. By the time the collapse had run its course, they had slumped to 82 for 9. Faheem Ashraf’s 37 gave the score some respectability, but not nearly enough to make Bangladesh nervous.
The scorecard tells the story, but not quite the mood of it. This was not only about wickets falling. It was about the manner in which Pakistan lost their shape. Mohammad Rizwan made 10, Salman Agha managed 5, and the middle order offered little resistance once the pressure arrived. Pakistan’s total of 114 in 30.4 overs felt short almost as soon as it was posted.
Bangladesh, to their credit, treated the chase exactly as a team in control should. Tanzid Hasan Tamim took the game away with a rapid unbeaten 67 from 42 balls, while Najmul Hossain Shanto added 27 as the hosts reached 115 for 2 in just 15.1 overs. It was clean, aggressive cricket, and it underlined the gap between the two sides on the day.
Nahid Rana was rightly named Player of the Match for his outstanding spell, with figures of 5 for 24 — his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket and his best bowling return in the format. His spell did not just break Pakistan’s innings, it defined the match.
There will be real concern in the Pakistan camp after this. This was supposed to be the start of a fresh ODI chapter, with a new-look side and a chance to reset after a bruising period in white-ball cricket. Instead, the familiar batting frailties returned almost immediately. Bangladesh, on the other hand, looked sharper, more composed, and far clearer in execution from the toss onward after choosing to field first.
The series now moves quickly. The second ODI will be played on Friday, March 13, followed by the third on Sunday, March 15, with both matches also scheduled in Mirpur. Pakistan now have a response to produce. Bangladesh already have the lead, and just as importantly, the momentum.
