DHAKA, Sept 5, 2023 (BSS)- After making a thrilling comeback to keep their Asia Cup hopes alive, Bangladesh are now eyeing to have a winning start in Super Four phase when they take on hosts Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore tomorrow (Wednesday).

The match which starts at 3.30 PM will be aired live on Gazi TV and T Sports.

Bangladesh received a massive blow ahead of the important clash, as their top run-getter in the tournament Najmul Hossain Shanto was ruled out of hamstring injury. Shanto followed his 89 against Sri Lanka, with a match-winning 104 against Afghanistan.

But Liton Das has joined the team, after making a complete recovery from the bout of fever, sparking the debate whether he should make way to the team straightway.

This will be the first ODI match between the two sides after 2019 World Cup, a match which Pakistan won by 94 runs.

Before that World Cup match, Bangladesh won four straight matches against Pakistan including a victory in 2018 Asia Cup Super Four phase in Abu Dhabi, UAE. That has been the Tigers only victory against Pakistan in Asia Cup. Mushfiqur Rahim fell for nervous 99 after being caught by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed off Shaheen Shah Afridi bowling. Bangladesh also made the final of that Asia Cup.

Overall Bangladesh won five and lost 32 in 37 matches against Pakistan.

The Tigers had some heartbreaking experiences against Pakistan in this tournament. In 2012 Asia Cup at home, when they first made the final, they defeated all of the teams in the tournament barring Pakistan.

The most heartbreaking was two-run defeat in the final at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, which made the whole nations break down in tears.

Bangladesh now evolved to a strong team in ODI format, from a team of occasional flashes of brilliance. But still Pakistan would start as favourite in this Asia Cup Super Four match because of home advantage and their superior bowling attack that included world's one of most dangerous pace trio-Shaheen Shah Afridi, Nasim Shah and Haris Rauf.

But Bangladesh showed their mental strength to survive, despite being at knife-edge. Many pundits were written off them when they tasted a five-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka after a wretched batting show. Bangladesh bounced back in style and their comeback was so magical that it made net run rate calculation totally invalid.

Bangladesh in fact played planned and calculative cricket, what even was beyond the imagination of their critics. The Tigers knew very well what kind of total they would have to put up against a much-vaunted bowling attack of Afghanistan. Shakib Al Hasan as a captain showed how immensely tactical he is. Knowing that Rashid Khan could trouble them at Lahore pitch, he changed the total batting combination, so that Rashid Khan couldn't bowl much against right hand batters. They knew well Rashid is less effective against left hand batters and so they made the top-order jam-packed with right hand batters.

The tactical nous actually won the game against Afghanistan. But only the tactical nous alone won't be enough against a team like Pakistan and that too in Lahore where they are almost invincible.

Pakistani bowlers have been top of their form and so as their batters, led by inspirational Babar Azam. Alongside tactical nous, Bangladesh also would have to demonstrate their skill to overcome the Pakistan juggernaut. And this is what Bangladesh could do if they play their best cricket, said Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

"We are not worried about any opponent. We just want to play our best cricket. We know if we can play to our full potential, we can beat any team in any condition," Miraz said after hitting a match-winning 112 against Afghanistan.

"Pakistan have a very good batting and bowling attack but the resources we have, we are confident to deal with them."

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Shamim Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Anamul Haque Bijoy.

Pakistan: Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve).