Pakistan begin life after Misbah and Afridi

Friday, April 17, 2015
Start time 1430 local (0830 GMT)

The dysfunctional relationship between the BCB and PCB will be put aside as Bangladesh and Pakistan play their first bilateral series since December 2011. During these last three years and four months, their off-field battles went nearly as far as cutting off ties, but the need of the hour - playing international cricket - brought them together.

There was controversy between the two boards over the choice of an ICC president, Bangladesh cancelling two tours to Pakistan in one year, and the PCB barring its players from domestic competitions in Bangladesh. More recently, the PCB demanding a share of the revenue from Pakistan's 2015 tour of Bangladesh and, after many convoluted statements, BCB deciding to pay compensation for the cancelled tours in 2012, were points of contention.

Now that the cricket is definitely taking place, attention will move to how Pakistan will do without Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi. It is a new era for them, led by Azhar Ali, who hasn't played an ODI since January 2013. A host of new players like Sami Aslam, Saad Nasim and Mohammad Rizwan have been included. The return of Saeed Ajmal, who has missed international cricket since August last year, will also be a major occasion.

Pakistan, however, possess a pace attack that would make most teams jealous: Wahab Riaz and Junaid Khan will lead it, with Ehsan Adil and Rahat Ali as support. The injury to legspinner Yasir Shah is a blow, but they have Saad Nasim and Haris Sohail to bank on for slow bowling.

On the whole, though, Pakistan lack experience, with only Mohammad Hafeez and Ajmal having more than 100 caps.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, are the most stable they have been in the last 18 months. They realised their goal of the making the World Cup quarterfinals. Mashrafe Mortaza is leading a side with the experience of Shakib Al Hasan, who will stand in as captain in the first ODI. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah are the experienced in-form batsmen, and there is reason to be excited by the likes of Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman. Newcomer Rony Talukdar has also done well in domestic cricket, to earn his first international call-up.

For the first time against Pakistan, Bangladesh could be a serious threat, particularly in the ODI series.

Bangladesh LLWWL (last five matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LWWWW

A blazing century in the practice match against the Pakistanis put Sabbir Rahman in the limelight. He already has a settled position in the Bangladesh batting line-up, at No 7, but now he has put some distance between him and his closest competitor Nasir Hossain.

International cricket awaits the return of Saeed Ajmal, who has been away fixing his banned bowling action for the past several months. The initial assessment meant he had to work harder than any of the bowlers who were banned last year. Ajmal was given the green signal in February, and now will play his first international match since August 30, 2014.

Talukdar is likely to make his debut in the first ODI, leaving no space for Mominul Haque. Nasir has a chance if Bangladesh play eight batsmen. The team management is unlikely to pick Abul Hasan in the pace attack due to Mashrafe Mortaza's absence.

Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Rony Talukdar, 3 Soumya Sarkar, 4 Mahmudullah, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 6 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 7 Sabbir Rahman, 8 Nasir Hossain, 9 Arafat Sunny, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Rubel Hossain

Pakistan are likely to give Saad Nasim a debut, in which case there won't be place for Asad Shafiq. Mohammad Rizwan and Sami Aslam are the other reserve players, while left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar has been named as a replaced for the injured Yasir.

Pakistan (probable) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Azhar Ali (capt), 3 Haris Sohail, 4 Saad Nasim, 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Wahab Riaz, 8 Junaid Khan, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Rahat Ali, 11 Ehsan Adil

The pitch could offer a bit of assistance to the pace bowlers but that is likely to wear off once the ball gets older. The weather is sultry in Dhaka but it cools down after sunset. A breeze would be most welcome in Mirpur.

"There are little things, one percenters that we need to improve. We all spoke about it. Hopefully we will do what we have been doing. It is going to be very competitive."
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha

"You need experience in your side and it takes time to recover [from the absence of experienced cricketers]. It will take time but it is a good time for the newcomers to get into the side and get ready for the international arena."
Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez