The trophy of Twenty20 International (T20I) series between Pakistan and Bangladesh was unveiled here at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore (GSL) on Thursday in the presence of skippers of the two teams.
The first T20I of three-match series will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday (today) at 02:00 PM for which all the arrangements have been finalised. All three matches of the T20I series will be day games.
Addressing a press conference, Babar Azam said: "I want to thank Bangladesh for visiting Pakistan. We will try to maintain our number one position in the T20Is by winning. We have a strong batting line-up which will help the bowling attack also as high scores in the shorter format boost the bowlers' confidence. Senior players will be given full opportunity and spectators will get to see good cricket between both sides."
"Our target is to win the series. No team can be taken lightly nowadays, but we are positive and will try to play good cricket. Overall we have made very good preparations - we played four [practice] matches and the team has gelled and we hope we will give you good results," Babar said, adding: "As a captain it will be a great help with seniors around me and I get to learn a lot."
About the prospects of Hafeez and Malik beyond the Bangladesh series, he said: "We expect them to perform. We will give them all three games and there will be the PSL after that, so with time the picture will be clear and then we will see. We made changes in the team because we had to, since players who were not in form had to be replaced."
Babar said, "Batting is our strength and the depth goes until No. 9, with Imad and Shadab capable of giving us power hitting later in the innings. But our bowling is equally good, with Shaheen making a comeback, and Haris whom we have seen doing great in the Big Bash League. There's no such pressure from what happened in the past. We can't do anything about it. But yes, we won't repeat the mistakes, and we will play according to our strengths."
Bangladesh cricket team skipper Mahmudullah said, "The security arrangements in Pakistan are wonderful and the atmosphere to play cricket is great here. We have come to display good performance. Although Pakistan are at first place in T20Is but rankings do not really matter." He said, "We are missing our senior players but new cricketers have emerged from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Tamim Iqbal and Mustafizur Rahman are also present in the team."
Moreover, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar in a statement welcomed the Bangladesh cricket team to Lahore.
The CM said that cricket lovers will enjoy T20 matches and added that arrival of Bangladesh cricket team is an important step towards the revival of international cricket. Every possible step has been taken for the provision of foolproof security and peaceful and congenial atmosphere will be provided to the spectators, he added.
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