On a charged Sunday evening, July 20, 2025, at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Bangladesh’s Tigers roared to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first T20I of a three-match series, clinching a 1-0 lead with 27 balls to spare.

Carrying the momentum from their historic T20I series win in Sri Lanka, Litton Das’s squad turned the screws with a devastating bowling attack and a blazing chase, proving that Bangladesh are no longer underdogs but a force to fear.

A chase that ignited Mirpur

Chasing a modest 111, Bangladesh stumbled early, losing openers Tanjid Hasan Tamim (1 off 4) and captain Litton Das (1 off 4) to debutant pacer Salman Mirza. Tamim’s mistimed hook found midwicket, while Litton’s ambitious drive landed in the slips, leaving the Tigers reeling at 7/2.

The Mirpur crowd, buzzing with anticipation and graced by BNP’s Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, held its breath.

Enter Towhid Hridoy and Parvez Hossain Emon, who transformed nerves into fireworks. Their 73-run third-wicket partnership off 62 balls was a masterclass in grit and flair on a sluggish pitch. Hridoy’s elegant 36 (37 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) ended with Abbas Afridi’s breakthrough, but Emon stole the show.

The left-hander smashed an unbeaten 56 (39 balls, 3 fours, 5 sixes), reaching his fifty with a towering six off Faheem Ashraf. Jaker Ali (11* off 9) sealed the win with a boundary, sparking roars across the stands.

Taskin and Mustafizur’s bowling blitz

The chase was set up by a bowling onslaught that left Pakistan shell-shocked. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Litton unleashed spinner Sheikh Mahedi Hasan, who struck in the first over. Fakhar Zaman (4) lofted a slog sweep, caught by Taskin Ahmed at short fine leg. Taskin, in the second over, leaked 9 runs early but bounced back, dismissing Saim Ayub (6 off 4) via Mustafizur Rahman’s catch at fine leg. Mahedi claimed Mohammad Haris (4 off 3) at cow corner, leaving Pakistan at 32/2.

Tanzim Hasan Shakib piled on the pressure, trapping Pakistan captain Salman Agha (3 off 9) with a cheeky scoop caught by Litton. Mustafizur, the “Fizz,” sent Hasan Nawaz back for a duck, capping a power play that saw Pakistan crumble to 41/4. Run-outs decimated the visitors further: Mohammad Nawaz (3) fell to a mix-up, with Mahedi breaking the stumps, and Fakhar’s gritty 44 (34 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) ended when Taskin’s throw to Litton caught him short. Khushdil Shah (18 off 23) miscued Mustafizur’s slower ball to Rishad Hossain, and Taskin dismissed Faheem Ashraf (5 off 9). Pakistan folded for 110 in 19.3 overs, with Taskin’s 3/22 and Mustafizur’s 2/6 (4 overs, 1.5 economy) leading the charge, backed by a wicket each from Mahedi and Tanzim.

Lineups

Bangladesh XI: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanjid Hasan, Litton Das (capt & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (capt), Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed

Riding high from their Sri Lanka T20I triumph—despite Test and ODI losses—Bangladesh swapped Shoriful Islam for Taskin, a move that ignited their attack. Pakistan, who edged the Tigers in their last T20I clash at home, were outplayed on a pitch tailored for Bangladesh’s bowlers.