Bangladesh V Pakistan 2nd ODI Preview And Live: Better Batting Needed

Down 0-1, with the batting in shambles and the bowling just about holding up, Bangladesh are a side struggling to establish themselves in the ODI series against Pakistan.

Bangladesh v Pakistan 2^nd ODI live on December 3 from 1330 hours local time (0730 hours GMT)

Bangladesh may be a number nine ranked side in the ICC rankings but have generally been out of touch in recent times. The batting, over-reliant on the pair of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan, has shown much struggle while the bowling has only been average but in front of the batting travails, has escaped notice.

The slow, spinning pitches have clearly been the bane of Bangladesh batting. First, they were bowled out for 85 in the T20I game before being restricted to a paltry 91 in the first ODI. Pakistan won both the games, one with ease and the second after being given a scare.

It is a surprise that Iqbal and Imrul Kayes have not cemented their partnership at the top of the innings. They were a decent pair for the first wicket, but off-field and injury issues seem to have got the better of them. Iqbal got a duck in the previous game while Kayes was not even a part of the playing 11.

That is not to say that the likes of Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal have not bowled well. In fact, they have done a great job in running through the opposition and the manner in which they have bowled, not too many top teams would be comfortable against them.

The gulf between the two sides is enough for one to say that Pakistan should win the series easily. What Bangladesh will want for their fans is a much-improved performance with the bat – on a track where run-scoring is admittedly difficult, if Bangladesh can get to a total of around 200, it will be a vast improvement. In turn, it should also give the bowlers a good chance to try and defend it.

Pakistan should roll over their opponents easily.