🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PAK vs BD, Match 9, Group A🏏 - Page 7

Originally posted by: Savera84

🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Match 9, Group A at Rawalpindi on 27/02/2025 at 2:30PM IST🏏

Pakistan and Bangladesh look - or hope - to sign off on a positive note

The two teams haven't made their own luck at the tournament, looking out of ideas at most times, and go into their last fixture knowing the result doesn't really matter

Pakistan and Bangladesh hope rain stays away

It has not been a tournament to remember for either Pakistan or Bangladesh, and the team talks ahead of their last game, against each other in Rawalpindi, are likely to be similar: play for pride, etc. With some chatter about the poor weather - if it continues, as the forecast says, the long faces in the two dressing rooms will get longer.

Pakistan's numbers in the Champions Trophy matches against New Zealand and India don't make for pretty reading. Their top-order batters haven't pulled their collective weight. With Fakhar Zaman out injured, Imam-ul-Haq came in and didn't do much. Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam have both hit a half-century each, but not been able to have any major impact. Mohammad Rizwan hasn't looked in any sort of form despite scoring a century in the tri-series at home before the Champions Trophy. Pakistan could bring in Kamran Ghulam just to freshen things up, but who do they drop?

After the top four, it's no better. Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir seem to be playing similar roles, which has led to stagnation in the middle. Faheem Ashraf, potentially, could have balanced the side a bit, but hasn't been given a go. And the quick bowlers have struggled to control the flow. India took apart Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. Naseem Shah has been better, but has looked below his best. Abrar Ahmed has bowled one great delivery that was overshadowed by his celebration.

Bangladesh haven't been too different, bar their quick bowling. Their batting has been one-dimensional, and not been able to go through the gears, with the lower order having to bail them out. Their top order caved in against India, while Michael Bracewell's offspin got rid of their middle order in the other game. Najmul Hossain Shanto showed form against New Zealand, while Jaker Ali has been consistent - they might have to do even more against Pakistan. As is the case with Towhid Hridoy, who scored an impressive century against India.

But they will want veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah to sign off from what could be their last ICC game with a bang and not a whimper. Their lack of fire has been disappointing to see, though, in Mahmudullah's case, it's just been one match and one failure.

Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana have to do the heavy lifting again on Thursday, with Mustafizur Rahman continuing to be steady without being spectacular. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain, the lead spinners, have a lot to do, too, especially in Rawalpindi where they should have a more central role.

But the two teams will also be looking beyond this game. They have to set their priorities right in the domestic circuit and then look for improvement in their international teams. They will both have to go back to the drawing board ahead of the next ICC tournament, and figure out how they can make a better fist of it, especially with a transition of sorts possibly around the corner.

Thanks RJ ji.🌟

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Originally posted by: Rosyme

U sent predictions?

4 5 6 words

No. Waiting for the toss to happen.

xyzabcd

Originally posted by: mushat

If I pick no match for today cos of rain.. Will i get a badge?

Cheers..

Originally posted by: Savera84

Unfortunately, match hoga ya nahi is not an option available for this prediction game. Next time we will add this option and prediction deadline will be 24 hours before the match.

Cheers..

Let it be a gamble - if someone predicts match wont happen, let him/her be eliminated altogether if match does happen...else if by chance it turns out to be true, award lots of bonus points 🙂 this might zhhosh up the contest 🥲

Originally posted by: kavya1994

No. Waiting for the toss to happen.

xyzabcd

Same

But chances are that match will be washed away

Originally posted by: Savera84

Unfortunately, match hoga ya nahi is not an option available for this prediction game. Next time we will add this option and prediction deadline will be 24 hours before the match.

Cheers..

Ohh

So I had to send predictions anyhow?

Like last match when it rained I didn't send it

Originally posted by: Spideyweb

Let it be a gamble - if someone predicts match wont happen, let him/her be eliminated altogether if match does happen...else if by chance it turns out to be true, award lots of bonus points 🙂 this might zhhosh up the contest 🥲

Waise bhi 0 hi mil rahe hai

Who is going to humiliate whom..

The toss has been delayed. There's been intermittent rain around in Rawalpindi and from what we gather, it has stopped for now. But the conditions aren't quite ready so just like the players are doing in the dressing room, we'll wait. From live pictures, I can tell you that the Pakistan team looks in good spirits. Babar Azam is sipping his hot beverage of choice while conversing with Haris Rauf and Salman Agha. Lots of gesturing and smiling.

Part of a tough group, Bangladesh would’ve been expected to turn up and cause at least an upset to stir things up. While they still have that opportunity today against a downcast Pakistan side, they themselves have had little to be upbeat about. Their experienced duo of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, who ideally should’ve been like treasury bonds that the team could’ve banked on, have instead been like a volatile cryptocurrency. That necessitated the youngsters to step up and to their credit, the likes of Shanto, Hridoy and Jaker Ali have given it their best shot. They bowled fairly well against New Zealand but like in nearly every ICC tournament that Bangladesh have been a part of, the gulf in quality and performance has been evident.