Third Pakistan-Bangladesh Twenty20 rained off

The third and final Twenty20 International (T20I) between Pakistan and Bangladesh has been called off due to rain without a ball bowled on Monday, giving the host a 2-0 series victory.

Murky conditions and drizzle delayed the scheduled 1pm toss at the Gaddafi Stadium pitch, but play was called off three hours later.

The series win helped Pakistan hang on to their number one ranking in Twenty20 internationals with 270 points, leading Australia by just one point. Pakistan had clinched the series after handing a comprehensive defeat to Bangladesh in the previous two matches of the series. On Saturday, Pakistan had comfortably chased the 137-run target set by the visiting team in the IInd T20I. Pakistan had won the first match by five wickets. The series was a critical one for Pakistan, who have been struggling to retain their top spot in the International Cricket Council's world T20 ranking, which they have held since 2018. Recently, Pakistan have had an unimpressive run in T20s - in October, they were whitewashed by an amateur Sri Lankan team in Lahore and lost another series to Australia a month later.

The T20 series was the first of the tour split into three phases. The second phase will see Bangladesh play Pakistan in the first Test in Rawalpindi from February 7, while in the third phase Bangladesh will play a solitary one-day international and the second Test in Karachi.

Bangladesh cricket team will return back next week for the first of two Test matches.