🏏Asia Cup 2023: M7: Super 4: PAK vs BD in Lahore today at 3PM IST 🏏

🏏Asia Cup 2023: M7: Super 4: PAK vs BD at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 06/09/2023 at 3PM IST 🏏

Pakistan and Bangladesh lock horns with each other in Match 7 on Wednesday, September 06 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

The Super 4 stages of the Asia Cup 2023 will get underway at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore with hosts Pakistan taking on Bangladesh in the first game of the next stage on Wednesday. Pakistan have entered the Super 4 with a massive win over Nepal and one point secured from their washed out game against Team India.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, were hammered by Sri Lanka by five wickets in their opening match but bounced back to thrash Afghanistan by 89 runs and book their berth in the Super 4 stages. India and Sri Lanka are the other two teams who have qualified for the Super 4.

Pakistan, the world No. 1 ODI side, have a massive edge in head-to-head clashes against Bangladesh – having won 32 out of the 37 matches against Shakib al Hasan’s side. Skipper Babar Azam will look to continue their winning with a win over Bangladesh in the Super 4 clash.

From six teams at the start of Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka have managed to reach the Super Fours. The first encounter of this stage of the competition will be played between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday, September 6.

Pakistan (PAK) annihilated Nepal in their opening game of Asia Cup 2023, winning by 238 runs. Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed scored centuries against the debutants before Shadab Khan spun a web around the opposition with a four-for. Babar Azam and Co. faced arch-rivals India in their second encounter. The 'Men in Green' bowled with a lot of venom and had India reeling at 66/4 before Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan stitched a 138-run partnership which helped India set a target of 267. However, Pakistan couldn't begin their chase as incessant rains forced the umpires to call the match off.

Bangladesh (BAN) started their campaign with a dismal batting performance against Sri Lanka as they were bowled out for 164. Shakib Al Hasan tried his best to make the Sri Lankan batters work hard for their runs but the Tigers eventually suffered a five-wicket defeat with 11 overs left. Needing a win against Afghanistan, Bangladesh batters stepped up with centuries from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Chasing a daunting target of 335, Afghanistan were bundled out for 245.

Gaddafi Cricket Stadium Pitch

Pakistan vs Bangladesh Pitch Report

The surface at the Gaddafi Stadium is good one for batting. The batters can play their strokes freely once they get settled in the middle. The spinners can extract some assistance from the surface in the middle overs but overall, it’s a good surface to bat on.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh Weather Forecast

Clear skies will greet both sides on Wednesday, with the temperature expected to hover between 26 to 38 degrees Celsius.

The Gaddafi Stadium offers an ideal setting for batters to shine, thanks to the flat surface it provides. On the contrary, seam bowlers often find it challenging to make an impact due to the lack of significant bounce and lateral movement in the pitch. Nonetheless, they can still trouble batters by hitting the right spots consistently. Additionally, as the game progresses, spinners may come into their own and benefit from the conditions.

The typical first innings total at this venue stands at 252, and the team winning the toss is likely to opt for batting first.

ODI stats and records at Gaddafi Stadium:

Total matches: 71

Matches won batting first: 36

Matches won bowling first: 33

Average first innings score: 252

Average second innings score: 217

Highest total: 375/3 (Pakistan)

Lowest total: 75 all-out (Pakistan)

Highest run chase: 349/4 (Pakistan)

Lowest total defended: 170/8 (West Indies)

Pak vs BAN Probable Playing XI

Pakistan (PAK)

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (C), Imam-ul-Haq, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah

Bangladesh (BAN)

Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Naim, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (C), Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud

Probable Best Performers:

Probable Best Batter

Babar Azam (Pakistan)

The Pakistan captain has been the epitome of consistency. If Babar can get going, it will help the other Pakistani batters to express themselves around him. Babar knows the pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium like the back of his hand as he is from Lahore. Bangladesh will do well to dismiss Babar early because if he gets set, he rarely throws his wicket away.

Probable Best Bowler

Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

The sensational left-arm quick showed his class against India with the new ball. He dismissed India's two most experienced batters in the form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. With the old ball, Shaheen dismissed Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja to finish with figures of 4/35 in 10 overs. He will pose a serious threat to the Bangladeshi batters with his ability to swing the ball both ways. However, it will be interesting to see if he can get some purchase from the pitch as there hasn't been much on offer for the bowlers in Lahore.

Ye match bhi shayad kal k jaise tough hoga.

Thanks for the tag. Will be a good match.

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

Let the best team win the match.

Pakistan ended at the top of the points table of Group A of this season of the Asia Cup whereas Bangladesh finished off at the second spot on the points table of Group B.

Pakistan played two matches in this season of the Asia Cup where they won a game while Bangladesh also played two matches in this season where they too, won one game.