Lahore, June 1, 2025 — With the series already in the bag, Pakistan will aim for a 3-0 whitewash when they face Bangladesh in the final T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium tonight. The hosts, buoyed by back-to-back dominant wins, appear to be finally embracing a modern, aggressive T20 philosophy — and Bangladesh have been unable to keep pace.
Momentum With Pakistan
Pakistan’s newfound attacking intent with the bat has been the standout narrative of the series. While the bowling attack still lacks full firepower, it has done just enough to prevent Bangladesh from staging any serious fightbacks. The leg-spin duo of Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan have offered control in the middle overs, and Hasan Ali continues to impress as the leading wicket-taker of the series.
A bright spot has been the emergence of Mohammad Haris at No. 3. A balance of power-hitting and measured strokeplay has given the top order added flexibility, while Saim Ayub, back from injury, is slowly regaining rhythm.
Bangladesh’s Struggles Continue
For Bangladesh, the tour has exposed major cracks in their T20 setup. Coming off a series loss to the UAE, their confidence was already low, and the absence of key players has left the side visibly vulnerable. While Tanzim Hasan Sakib showed resilience with both bat and ball in the second T20I, overall cohesion and batting firepower remain elusive.
The visitors have struggled with clumped dismissals and an inability to accelerate effectively — especially when chasing. A defensive mindset and limited bench strength have only compounded their woes.
Team News
Pakistan may experiment slightly, potentially giving Naseem Shah a run in place of Haris Rauf or Abbas Afridi, but the core lineup is expected to remain unchanged. For Bangladesh, Najmul Hossain Shanto is likely to return to bolster the top order, while Shoriful Islam misses out due to a groin injury. Khaled Ahmed could come in as a like-for-like pace replacement.
Probable XIs:
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (c), Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah/Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Abrar Ahmed
Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (c), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali (wk), Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed
Pitch & Conditions
Hot and dry weather is expected in Lahore, with a fresh surface prepared for the final T20I. Interestingly, each of the last three games at Gaddafi — including the PSL final — have seen teams batting first post exactly 201 runs.
Stats to Watch
Rishad Hossain has conceded 50+ runs in a T20I only three times in his 33-match career — twice in this series alone.
Pakistan have defended totals convincingly in both matches, a rarity in recent years for this side.
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Verdict:
Pakistan will be eager to close out the series with another clinical display, while Bangladesh desperately need a morale-boosting performance to avoid a whitewash. The gap in execution and confidence has been wide — and unless something dramatic changes, Pakistan are heavy favorites tonight.
