Bangladesh and Pakistan will begin their 2027 ODI World Cup preparations with a three-match ODI series starting on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Bangladesh have not played a single ODI since hosting the West Indies last October. All three ODI matches of Pakistan’s Bangladesh tour will be played at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka.
After their disappointing performance in the recently concluded 2026 T20 World Cup, Pakistan have once again looked to improve their squad. The Men in Green will bring in a new team by dropping big players like Babar Azam, Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan from the ODI team. Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead a new, inexperienced team in this tour.
Bangladesh Playing XI vs Pakistan-1st ODI
Bangladesh have a strong batting line-up with experienced batsmen and they will field their best XI in the first game against Pakistan. Captain Mehdi Hasan Miraj would like to lead the team well in the first game.
Openers: Saif Hasan, Soumya Sarkar
The responsibility of giving a good start to Bangladesh will be on Saif Hasan and Soumya Sarkar. Both the openers will have to take the opportunity to score runs as quickly as possible during the field restrictions in the first 10 overs.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Tauheed Hridoy, Liton Das, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Mehdi Hasan Miraj (captain)
As the game progresses, the pitch will slow down and the ball will turn, so middle-order batsmen like Nazmul Hussain Shanto, Tauheed Hridoy and Liton Das will have to remain alert against the Pakistani spinners and take aerial routes whenever needed.
Bowlers: Rishad Hussain, Tanveer Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed
Rishad Hussain has been one of the cleverest spinners in world cricket at present. He will be key in the game to pick wickets in the middle overs. Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed will be important with the new ball; However, the former player will also be important in the middle and death overs with his cutters and yorkers.
Bangladesh Playing XI: Saif Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Tauheed Hridayoy, Liton Das, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Mehdi Hasan Miraj (captain), Rishad Hossain, Tanveer Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed.
Pakistan Playing XI vs Bangladesh-1st ODI
Openers: Sahibzada Farhan, Shamil Hussain
Sahibzada Farhan and Shamil Hussain will make their ODI debut. However, the former has been in great form in the T20 World Cup 2026, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 383 runs. Although it is a different format, he has no prior international experience playing this format.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood
Pakistan’s middle order is relatively new, with only Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Aga having experience of playing in the ODI format. Other batsmen and all-rounders have to be cautious on a pitch that is slow and not easy to bat on. Both the giants will have to take the responsibility of scoring runs in the middle overs.
Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Faisal Akram, Abrar Ahmed
Shaheen Afridi will not only have to lead the bowling attack but will also have to captain. Because they will need their bowlers to perform well and take early wickets and make good changes in bowling, so that the home team cannot score big. Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed, two experienced campaigners, will look to take wickets in the middle overs and death overs respectively.
Pakistan playing eleven: Sahibzada Farhan, Shamil Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Aga, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Faisal Akram, Abrar Ahmed.
Also read: 24-year-old Pakistan cricketer announces retirement after T20 World Cup 2026 disaster
