Pakistan were able to beat Bangladesh by 4 wickets in the first T20I of a three-match series in Dhaka on Friday, courtesy of late fireworks by Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz.
Shah smashed 34 off 35 balls, with three fours and a six, Khan managed to score 21 off balls, with a four and two sixes, while Nawaz scored 18 off eight balls and hit the same number of boundaries as Nawaz.
Bangladesh bowlers smashed through Pakistan’s batting line up earlier as Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for 11, skipper Babar Azam seven, and Haider Ali went back to the pavillion for a duck.
However, Fakhar Zaman took charge. He was able to hit 34 off 36 balls, with four fours.
Earlier, Bangladesh failed to impress as they managed only 127 runs at the end of their 20 overs.
A resurgent Hassan Ali was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for off his four overs. He was aided by Mohammad Wasim, who took two wickets while Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz chimed in with one wicket each.
Afif Hosain scored the most runs for Bangladesh, making 36 runs off 34 balls before he was stumped by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off a Shadab Khan delivery.
Bangladesh opted to bat first against Pakistan after winning the toss earlier in the first of the three-match Twenty20 International series in Dhaka.
Pakistan have rested Shaheen Shah Afridi from the 12-member squad named by skipper Babar Azam yesterday.
