🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PAK vs BD, Match 9, Group A🏏 - Page 2

Batters to watch(Recent stats)

Salman Agha, PAK

10 M • 473 Runs • 59.13 Avg • 105.11 SR

Mohammad Rizwan, PAK

10 M • 391 Runs • 48.88 Avg • 79.47 SR

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, BAN

10 M • 323 Runs • 32.3 Avg • 69.61 SR

Mahmudullah, BAN

9 M • 304 Runs • 43.43 Avg • 91.84 SR

Bowlers to watch(Recent stats)

Abrar Ahmed, PAK

9 M • 15 Wkts • 4.7 Econ • 34.4 SR

Shaheen Shah Afridi, PAK

8 M • 15 Wkts • 7 Econ • 28.8 SR

Taskin Ahmed, BAN

8 M • 13 Wkts • 4.91 Econ • 31.84 SR

Mustafizur Rahman, BAN

6 M • 12 Wkts • 5.24 Econ • 27.5 SR

PAK vs BAN Probable best performers

Probable best batter: Babar Azam

Though Babar Azam has barely made much impact in the tournament the last game against India is where the fans witnessed an aggressive approach from the top-order batter in the start. He will want to play one big innings in this last game and prove why he is one of the best batters in the world right now.

Probable best bowler: Taskin Ahmed

The 29-year-old Taskin Ahmed was brilliant with the new ball against New Zealand who had a really strong batting lineup. Though he managed only one scalp he was still making things look tough against the Kiwis. The right-arm pacer has enjoyed bowling on this surface and will look to bowl another great spell against the host nation.

Today's Match Prediction: Team bowling first to win the match

Scenario 1

• Pakistan win the toss and opt to bowl first
• Powerplay: 40-60
• BAN: 240-260
• Pakistan win the match

Scenario 2

• Bangladesh win the toss and opt to bowl first
• Powerplay: 60-75
• PAK: 270- 290
• Bangladesh win the match

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.

In the spotlight: Abrar Ahmed and Jaker Ali

His send-off after the wonder ball to Shubman Gill has attracted all the attention, but Abrar Ahmed has been one of the few success stories for Pakistan in the last couple of weeks. He's posed a wicket-taking threat. He's been economical as well. But Bangladesh handled him well last year in the Rawalpindi Test so it will be interesting to see what happens on Thursday.

Jaker Ali has been a revelation for Bangladesh in the lower-middle order in the last few months. It has been just seven ODIs, but he averages 50-plus with two fifties. He is a strong hitter in the death overs, often finding the boundaries, but wouldn't mind having another specialist batter at the other end for at least a part of the time. Jaker can also offer his wicketkeeping if Bangladesh look to tinker with their XI and leave out Mushfiqur.

~~~*~~~

Format for predictions

*******

-Winning Team -- 5 points --

-Man of the Match -- 15 points --

-Hit the most 4s-- 10 Points --

-Hit the most 6s -10 points --

-Taking the majority of wickets --10 points --

-Making the most runs --- 10 points --

Thank you, Raji, for the thread and for tagging me.

This match invokes another type of interest.... who will win over the other !!!

Anyway, best wishes to both the teams.

Thanks for the tag and thread, Raji!❤️

Raining in Rawalpindi ☔

Gdghgjjh

Group B has seen India and New Zealand race far ahead to leave today’s contenders, Pakistan and Bangladesh, in the dust and fighting for scraps. Both teams have had very little to write home about and as their hopes of progressing further in the competition have long withered away, they’re left to go up against each other knowing that a scrutinizing dissection awaits them. That is, of course, if the rain doesn’t interfere. The last game here, between Australia and South Africa just a couple of days ago, was washed out without a toss and while today’s forecast doesn’t quite look as bleak, the rain might just symbolise the dingy exits the two teams are headed towards.

When the Champions Trophy came home, Pakistan were supposed to be like a well-engineered V8 - roaring through familiar asphalt smothering everything along the way. Instead, they’ve been a thrummy 3-cylinder that’s sputtered and groaned as it’s carried a weight of expectations that’s far greater than its designed capacity. “Intent” is a word that gets thrown around a lot when Pakistan bat and the way they’ve performed in this tournament so far has ensured that that won't change anytime soon. They were outplayed by New Zealand in their opening fixture and more still by India in their next. If their batting has lacked intent, their bowling has lacked order and venom. While Rizwan has been candid about his team’s shortcomings, there’s been little to suggest a revolution is coming and Pakistan cricket might just need one.