Another collapse, another defeat
Bangladesh lost the second T20I to Pakistan by 57 runs in Lahore on Friday. With this defeat, Pakistan sealed the three-match series 2-0.Chasing 202 to win, Bangladesh were never in control. They finished on 144 for nine. Pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib was the top scorer with 50 from 31 balls. He came in at number nine and showed the most fight.
Shoriful Islam did not bat due to injury. He got hurt while bowling in the first innings.Opener Tanzid Tamim started well again. But just like in the first match, he threw his wicket away. He made 33 from 19 balls. Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 23 from 17. No other batter reached double figures.
Pakistan’s bowlers kept it tight. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed took 3 wickets for just 19 runs, his best in T20Is. Mohammad Amir and Abbas Afridi supported him well.Earlier, Pakistan batted first and scored 201 for 6. Opener Sahibzada Farhan led the charge. He made 74 off 41 balls with six sixes and four fours. It was his best T20I knock.
Farhan lost partner Saim Ayub early. But then he and Mohammad Haris built a 103-run stand off 54 balls. Haris made 41 from 25 balls.Farhan fell in the 12th over, caught by Litton Das off Rishad Hossain. Hasan Nawaz then finished the innings strongly. He hit 51 not out off 26 balls, with three sixes and two fours.
For Bangladesh, Tanzim Sakib took 2 wickets for 36 runs. Hasan Mahmud also picked up two, but gave away 47 runs. Rishad Hossain was the most expensive — 50 runs for one wicket.Shoriful Islam left the field with a groin injury in the second over. Shamim Hossain had to complete the over.
This is the second game in a row where Bangladesh failed to chase 200. Pakistan posted the same total in the first match. Bangladesh lost that one by 37 runs.Now, with the series gone, the final match on Sunday is a dead rubber.
A consistent whimper
Despite the heavy loss, Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib stood by his teammates, stating in the post-match press conference that all current players are “well-proven” in both domestic and international cricket. He said, “We are all proven players here. We have proven ourselves in both international and domestic circuits.”
However, the stats tell a different story. Albeit the players who currently dorn the Tigers jersey have undoubtedly shown their brilliance, but it has happened so few and far in between that you have to ask yourself. What is the point?
Tanzid Tamim, for instance, has consistently got starts and scored highly promising scores of 59, 40, 31, and 33 in recent matches, yet failed to convert any of these starts into match-winning innings. Bangladesh lost on each occasion, often while chasing substantial totals. Whilst Tamim gives the team a platform to work with, but rarely if ever does he stay long enough to make sure the tigers are in a good position.
Parvez Hossain Emon, after scoring a century in the first T20I against the UAE, has managed just 0, 4, and 8 in his subsequent innings. His inconsistency at the top has left the side vulnerable early on. His top score before that? A meager 39 which was preceded by scores of 0,16,8,23,0 and 2.
Litton Das, the skipper and one of the most experienced heads in the dressing, has been long praised for his technique and elegance. But his inconsistency leaves a lot to be desired. Ever since his debut almost a decade ago, he has rarely scored big consistently for his nation. He has shown his ability in patches, but purple patches do not bring you glory.
Tawhid Hridoy’s 22-ball 17 in the first T20I against Pakistan came at a crucial juncture but lacked the required acceleration. In both matches of the current series, he has looked vulnerable under pressure and guilty of poor shot selection. In the 27 matches he has played on the international stage since 2024, he has crossed the 30 run mark only 10 times, despite being consistently called into action.
Jaker Ali has shown flashes of brilliance, notably a 72* against the West Indies last year, but has struggled for consistency. His 36 off 20 in the first match against Pakistan did little more than narrow the margin of defeat. His career strike rate of 126.50 puts him 4th among Bangladeshis and is well below the expected strike rate of 140-150 for finishers.
These numbers raise serious doubts over Sakib’s claim. While some players have displayed individual potential or performed in isolated instances, consistency – a hallmark of a “proven” international player – remains sorely lacking.
Mission impossible
While Sakib’s optimism reflects admirable team spirit, the numbers tell a harsher story. The Tigers’ batting unit has failed repeatedly to perform when it matters, and the assertion that they are “proven players” at the international level does not withstand scrutiny.
Captain Litton Das admitted post-match that his side is failing to stick to the basics. “If you see back-to-back wickets, you don’t take runs,” he said, underlining the recurring problem of poor decision-making under pressure.
The stark reality is that Bangladesh are not just out of form; they are being outclassed. Their inability to build partnerships, chase down competitive totals, or bat responsibly points to deeper issues than just a temporary dip.
With one match remaining in the series, the Tigers will hope to salvage some pride. But for the label of “proven players” to carry weight, the performances must start to match the promise – and soon.