The Pakistan vs Bangladesh 3rd ODI got underway with Pakistan winning the toss and choosing to bowl first in the series decider in Dhaka. The three-match ODI series is level at 1-1, making Sunday’s match a winner-takes-all contest.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi confirmed at the toss that Shamyl Hussain and Hussain Talat were unavailable because of injuries. In their place, Ghazi Ghori and Saad Masood came into the side for their ODI debuts.
Pakistan were forced into changes before the decider after two squad members were ruled out. Hussain Talat suffered a shoulder injury in the second ODI while trying to stop a boundary and crashed into the advertising boards.
Recent reporting also said Talat was taken to the hospital after that incident. The source text adds that Shamyl Hussain missed the match because of a neck strain.
Pakistan handed ODI debuts to Ghazi Ghori and Saad Masood in the final match of the series. ESPNcricinfo’s live scorecard for the match lists both players as debutants for the day-night ODI in Mirpur.
Their inclusion underlines Pakistan’s continuing squad reshuffle during the Bangladesh tour. The decider also comes after Pakistan bounced back strongly in the second ODI to level the series.
Pakistan entered the third ODI after a 128-run win in the rain-affected second match. ESPN listings for the series confirm Bangladesh had won the opening ODI before Pakistan responded in the second game to make it 1-1.
Read: Pakistan Beat Bangladesh By 128 Runs In Rain-Hit Second ODI
That left the final match as the decisive fixture of the series, with both sides aiming to close out the tour on a high.
Confirmed Playing XIs
Pakistan
Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Saad Masood, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Bangladesh
Mehidy H Miraz (c), Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanti, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Kumer Das, Afif Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana.
