Match overview

Bangladesh Cricket beat Pakistan Cricket by 8 wickets in Dhaka on 11 March 2026, in a match that was effectively decided by lunch. Pakistan were bowled out for 114, a total that owed much to a catastrophic middle-overs collapse in which they lost 9 wickets for 73 runs after a stable powerplay of 41 for 1. Nahid Rana was the chief destroyer and collected the Player of the Match award. Bangladesh's reply was emphatic: they scored 81 for 1 in the powerplay alone and knocked off the remaining 34 runs for the loss of one more wicket to finish on 115 for 2. The contest was barely a contest.

Pakistan's innings told a familiar tale of promise squandered. The powerplay score of 41 for 1 was marginally above the ground's average of 39, suggesting conditions were not dramatically difficult. What followed in the middle overs was another matter entirely. Nine wickets tumbled for 73 runs across overs 11 to 40, a collapse that Bangladesh's bowlers will point to with satisfaction. Pakistan managed no runs and lost no further wickets in the death overs, simply because there were no overs to be faced once they were bowled out.

Bangladesh's chase was anchored by an aggressive powerplay that made the result clear early. Scoring 81 in the first ten overs, more than double the venue's powerplay average, Bangladesh gave their lower order nothing to do. The target of 115 was reached with the equivalent of half a match left unplayed.

Venue and conditions

Shere Bangla National Stadium has hosted 469 ODI matches and carries a strong statistical identity. The average first-innings score of 179 tells you that Pakistan's 114 was not a good score; it was 65 runs short of what sides typically manage here. The average second-innings score of 161 indicates that chasing is not inherently simple, yet Bangladesh's 115 for 2 suggests conditions on the day presented few problems to a side that got off to a flying start.

Teams winning the toss at Shere Bangla choose to field 59 per cent of the time, and chasing sides win 54 per cent of matches. Bangladesh's decision to insert Pakistan fitted both statistics. The powerplay average of 39 runs gives a sense of how the ground usually plays in the first ten overs; Bangladesh nearly doubled that figure, which points either to excellent batting, a Pakistani bowling plan that backfired, or both. The death-overs average of 34 runs was rendered irrelevant by the match finishing well before that phase arrived in the second innings.

How to watch

Pakistan versus Bangladesh ODI cricket in the UK is typically broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming available through Sky Go and the NOW TV streaming service. If you are outside a standard Sky subscription, a NOW TV Sports Day Pass or Month Pass covers live cricket. Confirm broadcast times on the Sky Sports website, as start times in Dhaka often translate to late-morning or early-afternoon slots in the UK.

For radio coverage of international cricket, BBC Test Match Special and BBC Sport online commentary are worth bookmarking, particularly for bilateral series involving major Test nations. Coverage availability varies by bilateral agreement, so check the BBC Sport website ahead of any subsequent fixtures in this series.

Recent form

Pakistan arrived in Dhaka with a mixed 2026 campaign: wins over Sri Lanka, Namibia, and the United States, but defeats to England and India. The losses to two of the world's top sides may have disguised underlying fragility in the batting order, which was exposed comprehensively against Bangladesh's attack at Shere Bangla. Their recent form suggested a side capable of beating lower-ranked opposition while still vulnerable against quality bowling in helpful conditions.

Bangladesh's recorded recent form in the facts stretches into 2025, where they took four wins from five against Ireland. That record against Ireland is a limited benchmark, but consistent winning builds habits and rhythm. At home, in front of their own crowd, with a ground that suits spin and movement, Bangladesh showed on 11 March 2026 that they can outplay Pakistan across all three phases when conditions align. The next meeting between these two sides will test whether Pakistan can adapt their approach, particularly in the middle overs where this match was lost and won.