Bangladesh bowl first with Nurul leading in Shakib’s absence

Allrounders Shadab Khan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are expected to bat in the top order

Bangladesh have won the toss and will field first against Pakistan. In the first T20I of the tri-series, Nurul Hasan called correctly on a crisp sunny afternoon in Christchurch and promptly inserted Pakistan in. Both captains acknowledged it looked a good pitch to bat on with Babar Azam saying Pakistan were eyeing 170.

Pakistan go in with just three pace bowlers, while Shadab Khan, who had an injury scare in the final T20I against England last week, is carded to come in at number five. Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Haris and Haris Rauf are the three quick bowlers.

Shakib Al Hasan is not available for Bangladesh yet, so Nurul continues to deputise. Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz make up the frontline bowling attack, with Mehidy also slated to come in the number three.

Bangladesh: Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Litton Das (wk), Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan (capt), Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani