It’s a virtual semi-final in the Pakistan v Bangladesh game at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The team that emerges victorious will set up the summit clash with India. The way these 2 teams have played in the tournament so far, except the game to be a thriller.

Both teams come into the game having a win and a loss apiece at their backs in the Super 4 stage. Each of the two teams won against Afghanistan and lost to India. Their pattern of victory and defeat is also the same. While both won in close contests versus the Afghans, India gave both the teams a hammering. Also, both of them had finished No.2 in their respective groups.

Pakistan traditionally has had an edge over Bangladesh. The Men in Green have won 31 out of 35 head to head matches. But an eye-opening figure is that Bangladesh has won the last 3 ODIs against Pakistan. But when it comes to handling the crunch situations, the experience of Pakistan comes into the picture and hence, they go into the contest as the favorites.

Here is our prediction for the Pakistan v Bangladesh game

Case1: If Pakistan bats first

First Innings score prediction: 260-270

Result prediction: Pakistan will win the match by 20-30 runs

Case2: If Bangladesh bats first

First Innings score prediction: 230-240

Result prediction: Pakistan will win the match by 4 wickets

Head to head in ODIs

Total ODIs: 35, Pakistan won: 31, Bangladesh won: 4, No Result: 0

Team Compositions:

Pakistan

The openers haven’t been able to provide the starts to Pakistan. Fakhar Zaman has struggled in the tournament and Imam-ul-Haq, after doing well in the earlier part, failed against India. With Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik and Sarfaraz Ahmed in the middle-order, it’s a strong batting line-up but needs to deliver the goods more often than not.

The bowlers have struggled in the recent games. Mohammad Amir’s poor run continued against India and he might sit out of the side now. None of the bowlers could pick up a wicket in the last game and were thrashed by the Indian openers. But they can’t afford to be loose now as it’s now or never for the team.

Predicted XI

Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan

Bangladesh

Bangladesh was headed in the wrong direction during their batting after being down to 87/5 against Afghanistan. The top and the middle-order failed but the returning Imrul Kayes resurrected the innings alongside Mahmudullah. Mushfiqur Rahim, after the century in the first game, has gone off the radar. Shakib Al Hasan also hasn’t contributed with the bat.

The bowling has also been in all sorts in the last 2 games. They received a hammering at the hands of the Indian batsmen. And if not for the heroics of Mustafizur Rahman in the last over, they would have lost the game against Afghanistan as well. In the do or die game, the bowlers need to deliver big time

Predicted XI

Nazmul Hossain, Liton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Nazmul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

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