Bangladesh extended Pakistan’s woes with a seven-wicket victory in the lone Twenty20, displaying yet another commanding performance at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur in the capital yesterday. Playing with passion, gusto and guile, they contained Pakistan to a below par 141-5 after which Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman Rumman both struck defining half-centuries to help the side effortlessly chase down the target with 22 balls to spare.

Shakib was unbeaten on 57 while Sabbir on 51 after sharing an undefeated 105 to the third wicket that scripted Bangladesh’s 12th and first win over Pakistan in eight matches.
With the victory, Bangladesh dominated the limited-overs leg of this tour before heading to the Test series in which they have many things to prove.
Pakistan were invincible to Bangladesh for 16 years since their defeat to 1999 but within two weeks of the tour, Bangladesh brought them down to the earth, keeping them win-less so far.
The visitors were outclassed in every department in a format which they always find to their likings and gathered all of their experienced players in order to take the revenge of their 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series. Bangladesh were ruthless and indomitable.
Albeit Tamim Iqbal hammered Mohammad Hafeez 14 runs in the first over of the chase, Pakistan clawed back style, removing Tamim (14) and Soumya Sarkar who was trapped run out on naught without facing any ball on his T20 debut.
Wahab Riaz then dismissed Mushfiqur (19) in a gem of fast bowling to leave Bangladesh 38-3 and awakened a prospect of ending the win-less streak. However all Bangladesh needed, was a partnership which they got through Shakib and Sabbir.
Pakistani bowlers checked their flamboyance for a while but once they got the eye in and set them in the crease, they never looked back.
Both of the batsmen didn’t hesitate to From Page 1 Col 4 play their shots when they got that in their zone. Shakib struck nine fours on his 41 ball-57 not out while Sabbir blasted 51 off 32 with seven fours and one six. Pakistan were choked right from the start once they predictably elected to bat first in a batting favourable surface. Teen-age left arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman overcame the pressure of debut match as he bowled with sustained menace to leave Pakistan in a dazed state.
Shakib Al Hasan played a perfect foil to him by delivering two tight overs in the first powerplay after which his bowling figure was 2-0-2-0. Shakib ended with measly 4-0-17-0. Taskin Ahmed however gave the side first breakthrough having dismissed struggling Ahmed Shehzad and celebrated the wicket with a chest-bump with captain Mashrafe who ran hard from the long-off to take the tumbling catch.
But Mustafizur gave the side the much-needed wicket of Shahid Afridi (12) whose dismissal tilted the match towards the hosts effectively. Debutant Mukhtar Ahmed was the top scorer for Pakistan with 37 while Haris Sohail was unbeaten on 30.
Mustafizur Raman returned figures of 2-20 while Taskin and Arafat Sunny claimed on wicket apiece. Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia congratulated Bangladesh Cricket Team for their maiden T20I victory over Pakistan.
In a message, the president congratulated the team players, coach, manager, and BCB officials for their 7-wicket win against visiting Pakistan. Hamid expressed the hope that the winning trend of the tigers will continue in the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan. In a message of felicitation, cricket lover Hasina also thanked the manager, coach, Cricket Board officials and all concerned for this outstanding feat.
The prime minister said through this victory, the professionalism and capacity of the national cricket team has been reflected freshly in the global cricket arena following the whitewash of the Pakistan team in the three-match ODI series by the Tigers. She also expressed her high optimism that the national cricket team would maintain this continuity of success firmly. Sheikh Hasina also asserted that the current AL government is pledge-bound to implement any necessary step for the development of the country’s cricket.
The prime minister who also enjoyed the match from the stadium was seen inspiring the Tigers through clapping and cheering. On completion of the match, she also waved the national flag. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also greeted the Bangladesh cricket team for its maiden T20 match victory against Pakistan. In a message, the BNP chairperson said, “I congratulate all the players, the coach, officials and all concerned of the Bangladesh National Cricket team on their outstanding success.”