Bangladesh etched their name in cricket history on July 22, 2025, securing their first-ever T20I series victory against Pakistan with a nail-biting eight-run win in the second match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. This triumph, following a commanding seven-wicket victory in the series opener, hands Bangladesh an unassailable 2-0 lead with one game remaining in the three-match series.
Sent in to bat, Bangladesh struggled early, slumping to 28 for 4 by the sixth over after Pakistan’s bowlers struck with precision. However, Jaker Ali’s resilient 48-ball 55, studded with five sixes and a boundary, provided the backbone of the innings. A crucial 53-run partnership with Mahedi Hasan (25 off 33) for the fifth wicket steadied the ship, lifting Bangladesh to a modest yet defendable 133 all out in 20 overs. Salman Mirza (2-17) and debutant Ahmed Daniyal (2-23) were the standout bowlers for Pakistan, capitalizing on a slow Mirpur pitch.
Pakistan’s chase began disastrously, losing their top five wickets for just 15 runs in the powerplay. Shoriful Islam’s career-best 3-17 dismantled the batting lineup early, dismissing key players like Fakhar Zaman (8) and Mohammad Haris (0). A glimmer of hope emerged with Faheem Ashraf’s aggressive 51 off 32 balls, including four sixes and four boundaries, and a 41-run eighth-wicket stand with Abbas Afridi (19). Debutant Daniyal added a fiery 17 off 11, but his dismissal off the second ball of the final over sealed Pakistan’s fate at 125 all out.
Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman and spinner Rishad Hossain played pivotal roles in the death overs, maintaining pressure to clinch the series. Captain Litton Das hailed the team effort, saying, “It’s wonderful to win back-to-back series. This shows good improvement in our standards.” Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Salman Agha lamented, “We thought 134 would be gettable, but we lost too many wickets early on, and that’s something we must address quickly.”
This series win marks a significant milestone for Bangladesh, who had previously struggled against Pakistan, winning only four of 23 T20I encounters. The victory builds on their recent 2-1 series triumph over Sri Lanka, signaling a rising force in the format. For Pakistan, the defeat exposes vulnerabilities in their batting, particularly on challenging pitches, and sets the stage for a must-win final match on July 24 to salvage pride.
As the cricket world takes note, Bangladesh’s growing prowess and Pakistan’s need for introspection dominate the narrative heading into the series finale.
