Pakistan begin their ODI series against Bangladesh with the first match in Dhaka as both teams look to reset after recent mixed results in international cricket. The match will also mark the first ODI meeting between the two sides in three years.
Match details
Venue: Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium
Date: March 11, 2026
Time: 1:45 PM IST | 1:15 PM PST | 08:15 AM GMT
Team overviews
Bangladesh national cricket team enter the series with the advantage of home conditions and a slightly more experienced ODI lineup. The hosts will play their first home match since their series against West Indies last year. Bangladesh missed the 2026 T20 World Cup, so this ODI series offers them an opportunity to regain momentum and rebuild confidence in the 50 over format.
Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz will lead a squad that features a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging players. Bangladesh traditionally performs strongly in Dhaka, especially on slower tracks where their spin options often dictate the pace of the game.
Pakistan national cricket team arrive in Bangladesh with a largely refreshed lineup. Pakistan struggled in the recently concluded T20 World Cup and failed to reach the semi finals, which led to criticism of their overall performances. The management now appears to be experimenting with younger players as part of their preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Shaheen Shah Afridi leads Pakistan in this series, and the team includes several new faces in the batting order. While the bowling unit remains strong, the batting group lacks extensive ODI experience, which could become a challenge in testing subcontinental conditions.
Key players
For Bangladesh, Litton Das and Najmul Hossain Shanto will play crucial roles at the top of the order. Both batters possess the ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when required. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz provides balance with both bat and ball, while Mustafizur Rahman remains the primary pace threat with his variations.
Pakistan will depend heavily on Mohammad Rizwan to provide stability in the middle order. Sahibzada Farhan could play a key role as an aggressive opener, while Salman Ali Agha adds experience in the middle overs. In the bowling department, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf lead the pace attack, while Abrar Ahmed could become a decisive factor on a spin friendly surface.
Head to head record
Pakistan hold a dominant historical advantage in ODIs between the two sides. The teams have met 39 times in the format, with Pakistan winning 34 matches and Bangladesh winning five.
In ODI World Cups, the rivalry has been closer. Pakistan have won two of their three World Cup encounters, while Bangladesh have secured one victory.
Pitch report
The Sher e Bangla National Cricket Stadium generally offers a slow surface that assists spin bowlers. Statistics show that high scoring matches remain rare at this venue. Only 13 totals above 300 have been recorded in 121 ODIs played at the ground.
The pitch usually becomes dry and slow as the match progresses, which allows spinners to control the middle overs. Teams often prefer including three or four spin bowling options in their playing XI.
Teams batting first have won 58 matches at this venue, while chasing teams have won 63. The difference remains minimal, which means the toss may not play a decisive role. However, captains often prefer batting first on a fresh wicket.
Probable playing XIs
Bangladesh Playing XI
Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed
Pakistan Playing XI
Sahibzada Farhan, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Faisal Akram, Abrar Ahmed
Probable match scenarios
The conditions in Dhaka strongly suggest a moderate scoring contest. A total between 250 and 275 could prove competitive on this surface. If the pitch offers early assistance to spin bowlers, teams may struggle to accelerate in the middle overs.
Bangladesh will aim to control the match through their spin attack and disciplined batting approach. Pakistan may rely on their pace attack to strike early and put pressure on the hosts.
Weather forecasts suggest cloudy conditions with temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. There is a slight chance of rain earlier in the day, but interruptions during the match appear unlikely.
Live streaming and broadcast
India: Live streaming on the FanCode app and website. No official television broadcast announced.
Pakistan: Streaming availability expected through the FanCode digital platform. No confirmed TV broadcast.
United Kingdom: No official broadcast partner announced at the time of writing.
Australia: No confirmed TV or streaming partner announced.
Global viewers: Digital streaming available via the FanCode platform where accessible.
Match prediction
Bangladesh start the match as slight favourites due to home advantage and a more settled ODI lineup. Pakistan possess a strong bowling attack that could change the game quickly, but their inexperienced batting unit may face difficulties against Bangladesh’s spin heavy strategy. If Bangladesh post a competitive first innings total, they hold a strong chance of taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
