Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in a three-match T20I series starting on 20 July in Mirpur, with Litton Das believing the contests will be competitive despite the visitors’ dominant win in their last meeting.
Not too long ago, Bangladesh’s T20 team was in complete disarray. Just a month back, they suffered a series defeat to associate nation the United Arab Emirates, followed by a 3–0 whitewash in Pakistan.
However, that phase of disappointment has been turned around Litton Das and his team made history by winning their first-ever T20 series against Sri Lanka.
Barely two days after returning home with the trophy, Bangladesh are preparing to take the field again this time against Pakistan in a three-match T20 series beginning on Sunday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
The team held a training session on Saturday evening, preceded by a press conference. Before speaking to the media, skipper Litton Das spent nearly ten minutes closely inspecting the pitch, not surprising given the frequent focus on the condition of the wicket during any series or tournament at Mirpur. Although a few concerns remain about the surface, Litton remains optimistic that the series will offer competitive cricket. That said, the last time these two sides met, Bangladesh were thoroughly outplayed.
Still buoyed by the Sri Lanka series win, Litton hopes his side can carry their improved form into this home series. “When we went to play in Pakistan, our mindset was the same to win,” said Litton. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t manage that. We made some mistakes, and that’s why we didn’t get the results. But after losing the first match against Sri Lanka, we made a strong comeback. That’s definitely helped build confidence in all our players. But now, it’s a different team, different conditions. We need to play good cricket on that particular day. Confidence helps but so does focus. How well we maintain our concentration will be just as important.”
Mirpur wickets typically assist spinners. The black soil surface takes time to break down, but low bounce is a regular feature. According to data from the most recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), teams batting first in day-night matches at this venue have averaged around 150 runs. However, in the last five international T20s here, the average first innings score under lights has been between 125 and 130.
Litton himself highlighted the key difference between domestic and international cricket when it comes to pitch impact. “There are two factors here, based on my experience,” he explained. “In the BPL, there’s a greater chance of dew in one innings, which makes batting easier.”
Even though there is a touch of grass on the wicket, sources suggest the Bangladesh–Pakistan series is likely to be played on a spinning track. Acknowledging that, Litton added that while high-scoring matches might not be on the cards, the contests will still be intense.
“In the BPL, I don’t think every team has five quality bowlers,” said Litton. “That’s why when you face a weaker bowler or two, the runs go up. But it’s different in international cricket. Every team has five or six quality bowlers. So even if it’s not high scoring, I believe the games will be exciting and both sides will have an equal chance.”
