Taskin Back in XI as Bangladesh Bowl First in 1st T20 Against Pakistan

Bangladesh captain Liton Das sent Pakistan into bat first after winning the toss in the three-match T20 International series opening game at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. Having won the toss, Liton snapped a nine-match streak of losing the toss.But Bangladesh broke the winning combination that won the recent three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh came from behind to beat Sri Lanka by 2-1, which was their first ever series victory against the Lankans in this format. However, Taskin Ahmed returned to the squad, replacing his fellow fast bowler Shoriful Islam.

Pakistan are also high on confidence as they came into the series with the back of 3-0 sweep over Bangladesh at home last May. Pakistan captain Salman Agha said he would have also opted to bowl first if  he won the toss. "I would have done the same. I would have bowled first too, but it's all right," Agha said. "Toss is just a matter of starting the game. Our preparation has been outstanding. We had a camp in Karachi, and we were trying to prepare the same pitches we are going to get here, and we are ready for the game." Line Ups: Bangladesh: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Liton Das(w/c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Patwari, Jaker Ali Anik, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris(w), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha(c), Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed.