Pakistan will play against Bangladesh on September 26 in what will effectively be a semi-final clash as the winner will advance to play India in the final match of the tournament.
Shoaib Malik and Babar Azam have been the most consistent batsmen for Pakistan in this Asia Cup. Shoaib has now hit two fifties in two games, including the gritty 78 he scored against India on Sunday. While Babar and Shoaib will be the key men at the top and in the middle order respectively, the team will also look to their openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq to take them off to a good start. Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Ali seem to be the main threats among the bowlers. Shadab and Nawaz have been pretty economical so far and Pakistan will need these two bowlers to hurt Afghanistan during the middle phase of their innings. Hasan Ali and Mohammad Amir will be backed by skipper Sarfraz to make the early strikes during the first powerplay.
Mushfiqur Rahim has scored the most runs for Bangladesh in the tournament - 198 runs in three matches - and he is going to be the key figure in this batting line-up. The middle order relies heavily on Shakib Al Hasan and it will be crucial that he makes a notable contribution with the bat. Imrul Kayes and Mahmudullah both scored in 70s last time against Afghanistan and the team will want them to continue from where they had left off. Shakib will have a major role to play with the ball as well. He is amongst the tournament's leading wicket-takers with seven wickets in four matches and the pitch at this ground should suit his style of bowling. Mustafizur Rahman and Mashrafe Mortaza who claimed two scalps apiece against Afghanistan are two other bowlers in the side with the potential to turn the game on its head.
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