New Delhi: Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan’s earlier remarks about not watching India matches have once again come into focus after their humiliating loss to Bangladesh in the first ODI on Wednesday.Earlier, while casually chatting with reporters at the Nets meeting, Rizwan was asked about India’s stellar performance in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England, in which they scored a total of over 250 runs.
Replying to the question, Rizwan said: “Sorry, I don’t watch their games.”The comments have once again come into focus after Pakistan’s humiliating loss to Bangladesh in the first match of the three-match series. Rizwan himself struggled in the match, scoring just 10 runs off 20 balls, and Pakistan’s batting line-up collapsed under the pressure.Pakistan batted first in Mirpur but managed just 114 runs in 30.4 overs, their lowest ODI total against Bangladesh. The team fell apart after a solid start and once the first breakthrough came, the visitors lost wickets in quick succession.Young Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana was the star of the show as he demolished Pakistan’s top order with a brilliant spell. The 23-year-old took 5 for 24, his first 5-wicket haul in ODIs. Rana dismissed Sahibzada Farhan, Shamil Hussain, Maz Sadaqat, Rizwan and Salman Agha to leave Pakistan reeling at 69-5.Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz also played a key role and took three wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman took one wicket each. Only Faheem Ashraf, who scored 37 runs, provided some resistance to Pakistan at the end of the innings.Bangladesh then accomplished the modest target with ease, chasing 115 runs in just 15.1 overs to register a resounding eight-wicket win and take a 1-0 lead in the series.Opener Tanzid Hasan led the way with an unbeaten 67 off 42 balls and shared an 82-run partnership with Najmul Hossain Shanto (27) to complete a comprehensive victory for the hosts.
