Bangladesh players in Chittagong during last year (Source: AFP Photos)
Bangladesh will finally be in action after a long break when they take on Pakistan in the first ODI of the three-match series on Wednesday. All three ODIs will take place in Mirpur.
Bangladesh were not part of the T20 World Cup 2026 after the Mustafizur Rahman saga. They arranged a T20 tournament during that period, and followed it with another competition in 50-over format, keeping the BAN vs PAK ODIs in mind.
The 50-over ODI tournament in Bangladesh, known as the Bangladesh Cricket League One-Day Cup, began on February 15, with North Zone, East Zone, Central Zone and South Zone being the sides that participated.
North Zone topped the group, with two wins in three attempts, followed by Central Zone, which had the same number of wins, though not as good as the net run rate as the former.
Eventually, Central Zone won the competition, defeating North Zone by five wickets in the final. There, the North Zone came to bat first and were bundled out for 238 in 49.3 overs. Coming to chase, Saif Hassan and Mohammad Naim batted beautifully, making 88 and 78 respectively to get Central Zone past the finishing line in just 38 overs.
With the BAN vs PAK ODIs about to begin, let’s take a quick look at the performers from the Bangladesh side who could wreak havoc against Pakistan players.
1) Rishad Hossain
Arguably Bangladesh’s most valuable player in white-ball cricket at present, Rishad Hossain proved his worth yet again in the recently concluded Bangladesh Cricket League One-Day Cup. The all-rounder, who has been incredible with the ball in hand lately, took nine wickets in four matches under the economy rate of six runs an over while playing for North Zone.
| Criterion | Data |
| Innings | 4 |
| Wickets | 9 |
| Average | 23.77 |
| Economy Rate | 5.94 |
[Rishad Hossain BCL One-Day Cup Stats]
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Rishad had only one bad game in the Bangladesh Cricket League One-Day Cup, when he did not take a wicket. Overall, he finished the tournament as the undisputed leading wicket-taker, ahead of Ripon Mondol, who had eight scalps under his belt.
2) Towhid Hridoy
Towhid Hridoy had a superb finish in the Bangladesh Cricket League One-Day Cup, making 102 and 96 in the final two outings. In a generation where Bangladesh struggles to bat in the 50-over format, he already has a solid 34.18 average in ODIs, that too being a white-ball specialist.
| Criterion | Data |
| Innings | 3 |
| Runs | 233 |
| Average | 58.25 |
| Strike Rate | 89.61 |
[Towhid Hridoy BCL One-Day Cup Stats]
Hridoy will be clinical for Bangladesh’s success if they manage to do so against the Shaheen Afridi-led side. He is expected to play a pivotal role in the middle order, where Litton Das will also be joined with an aim for redemption.
3) Nahid Rana
Nahid Rana played three matches in the Bangladesh Cricket League One-Day Cup 2026 and left his mark on all three occasions. Playing for North Zone, he had two wickets in the BCL One-Day Cup final, which included the wicket of Central Zone captain Mahidul Islam Ankon.
| Criterion | Data |
| Innings | 3 |
| Wickets | 7 |
| Average | 20.14 |
| Economy Rate | 5.42 |
[Nahid Rana BCL One-Day Cup Stats]
With Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman already being there, Rana is potentially to be selected as an X-factor for Bangladesh in their playing XI in the first ODI versus Pakistan. If that happens, Shoriful Islam, in all likelihood, will be benched.
The BAN vs PAK ODIs will get underway on 1.45 PM IST onwards.
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