Pakistan vs Bangladesh: Pakistan roars back with a stunning win, while Bangladesh’s semi-final dreams fade. Read the thrilling match analysis and player insights.
In a thrilling showdown in Kolkata, Pakistan displayed their prowess and determination to keep their hopes of a World Cup semi-final berth alive. Bangladesh, on the other hand, faced yet another defeat, marking the end of their semi-final aspirations. Let’s dive into the key takeaways from this all-Asian encounter.
Pakistan’s Resurgence:
Facing a must-win situation, Pakistan came into the match with a renewed spirit. They made a statement with their performance, both with the ball and the bat. After being asked to bowl first on a dry pitch, Pakistan’s bowlers delivered a commendable performance. Shaheen Afridi set the tone early by taking two crucial wickets. Haris Rauf and Iftikhar chipped in with vital breakthroughs, and Mohammad Wasim ran through the Bangladeshi tail. The Pakistani fielding was sharp, with hardly any errors, as they bundled out Bangladesh for 204.
Bangladesh’s Struggles Continue:
Bangladesh’s campaign in the 2023 World Cup took a grim turn as they suffered their sixth consecutive loss. Their batting woes persisted, with early wickets falling once again. While there were partnerships, they failed to convert into substantial scores. Bangladesh struggled against Pakistan’s bowlers, who bowled with precision and strategy.
Abdullah Shafique Shines:
Pakistan’s opener, Abdullah Shafique, continued his outstanding form in the tournament, notching up his fourth 50+ score. His eye-pleasing strokes and steady batting laid a strong foundation for Pakistan’s chase. Shafique’s contributions have been crucial to Pakistan’s campaign, and his consistency has not gone unnoticed.
Fakhar Zaman’s Roaring Comeback:
In his comeback game, Fakhar Zaman proved his worth by playing a breathtaking knock at the top of the order. He smashed seven sixes and three fours, showing his ability to take on the opposition. Fakhar’s aggressive batting style extinguished any hopes in the Bangladeshi camp. His performance was a testament to his potential impact on Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Clinical Victory for Pakistan:
Pakistan’s chase was a cakewalk, thanks to the solid foundation laid by Shafique and the explosive start provided by Fakhar Zaman. Pakistan’s openers ensured that there was no room for a Bangladeshi comeback. While Bangladesh managed to take three wickets, it was too late to affect the outcome. Pakistan clinched a comprehensive victory with 17.3 overs to spare, significantly improving their net run rate.
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Pakistan vs Bangladesh Post-Match Interview
Babar Azam (Captain, Pakistan Team): All credit to the boys for our performance in all three departments. We’re aware of Fakhar’s impact when he plays for an extended period. We’ll aim to win our next two matches. Shaheen set the tone early. Thank you to the fans for their support.
All credit to the boys the way we played in all three departments. We know, if Fakhar bats for 20-30 overs, it’s a different ball game, he played his natural game. Good to see him. We are trying to win the next two matches, we’ll see where we stand. We started well, the way Shaheen started. After 15-20 overs, they built a partnership, our main bowlers picked wickets. We picked wickets in the middle overs. Thank you (fans) so much for the support.
Babar Azam
Shakib Al Hasan (Captain, Bangladesh Team): Bangladesh struggled to score enough runs, especially after losing early wickets. Credit to Pakistan for their strong performance in the first 10 overs. Shakib acknowledges the need to rethink his batting position.
Not enough runs, The wicket was really good, we lost early wickets again. There were some partnerships, but not big partnerships. Disappointing with the bat. Credit should go to Pakistan, the way they bowled and the way they batted in the first 10 overs. (On his batting position) We’ll have to think about that. We are not getting many runs from the top four batsmen. I was batting in the top four, I wasn’t scoring. My confidence was low too. Luckily I got some runs, felling better now. At this moment, changing too many things gets difficult. We have to keep moving forward. We have to perform together. We need collective performance, which is not happening. Two more matches, hopefully we can bounce back. Everywhere we go, they (fans) keep supporting us. We have to give something back to them so they can smile.
Shakib Al Hasan
Fakhar Zaman Fakhar (Player of the Match): practiced extensively on his batting after the Asia Cup. He aimed to make things easier for his partner by seeing off the first few overs. Their goal was to maintain a good net run rate after reaching 100 and finish the game within 30 overs. Fakhar is hopeful of making bigger scores in upcoming games.
After the Asia Cup, I practiced a lot on my batting, I was looking good at the camp and was looking forward to making it to the team. Today, my hard work paid off after I was given a chance. I told Abdullah that I will see off the first few overs, I knew I could hit big sixes. My role is to make it easy for my partner, so it was important to see off the first few overs and then play my shots. NRR was in our mind after we reached 100, the aim was to finish it off in 30 overs. I had too many failures, I was looking towards such a knock and hopefully I’ll make bigger scores in the next few games.
Fakar Zaman
Statistics of Pakistan in the World cup
Most 50-plus scores for Pakistan in a World Cup edition:
| Player | Number of 50+ Scores |
|---|---|
| Javed Miandad (1992) | 5 |
| Misbah-ul-Haq (2015) | 4 |
| Babar Azam (2019) | 4 |
| Abdullah Shafique (2023) | 4 |
Most sixes by Pakistan in a World Cup innings:
| Match | Year | Number of Sixes |
|---|---|---|
| vs ZIM, Kingston | 2007 | 16 |
| vs UAE, Napier | 2015 | 10 |
| vs AFG, Chennai | 2023 | 9 |
| vs BAN, Kolkata | 2023 | 9 |
| vs SA, Chennai | 2023 | 8 |
Instances of Pakistan scoring at over 6 RPO in a WC run-chase:
| Match | Year | Run Rate (RPO) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs SL, Hyderabad | 2023 | 7.13 | Won (Target: 345) |
| vs AUS, Bengaluru | 2023 | 6.70 | Lost (Target: 368) |
| vs BAN, Kolkata | 2023 | 6.30 | Won (Target: 205) |
| vs UAE, Gujranwala | 1996 | 6.22 | Won (Target: 110) |
Conclusion:
Pakistan’s emphatic win keeps their World Cup semi-final hopes alive. Their all-round performance, combined with the resilience of their openers, proved to be the difference in the match. Meanwhile, Bangladesh faces disappointment as they officially exit the semi-final race, marking a forgettable campaign in the tournament. Pakistan’s challenge for a semi-final spot remains alive and well.