Bangladesh Predicted XI Vs Pakistan- 3rd ODI, 2026- Mustafizur Rahman Out?

Bangladesh playing XI vs Pakistan, 3rd ODI [Source: X]

Bangladesh and Pakistan lock horns for the third and final time in the ongoing ODI series at the Sher-E-Bangla Stadium, Dhaka, on March 15, at 1:45 PM (IST)

After the visitors squared the series in the last ODI, the decider is expected to be a cutthroat affair for the trophy after Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz recently spoke about their poor ODI form.

PAK Vs BAN 3rd ODI Preview

Leading up to the series decider to be played on Sunday, the first two matches have been one-sided affairs, with each team clinching a match respectively. This series is the first time since November that the hosts have returned to international cricket, and they stand a golden opportunity to start their 2026 international calendar on a high.

Tanzid Hasan is Bangladesh’s leading run-scorer of the series with 68 runs in two innings, including a match-winning 67*(42) in the series opener. With the ball, Nahid Rana has picked six wickets in two innings, including a 5/24 in a match-winning cause.

For Pakistan, all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat has scored 93 runs as an opener in two innings. His 75 off 46 helped Pakistan level the series alongside Salman Agha’s 65 off 62. On the bowling front, Haris Rauf, Sadaqat and Shaheen Afridi have picked three wickets each in the series.

Also Read: PAK vs BAN Head-To-Head Records - 3rd ODI, Pakistan Tour Of Bangladesh 2026

Bangladesh Predicted Playing XI vs Pakistan – 3rd ODI

Openers and Top Order – Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto

Bangladesh is expected to stick with the same top order of Saif Hassan, their top-scorer Tanzid Hasan and the experienced number 3, Najmul Hossain Shanto.

Apart from Tanzid’s fifty, Shanto scored 27 off 33 in the first match, avoiding any hiccups after an early wicket of Saif Hassan in the run chase. After two substandard outings, opener Saif Hassan will look to fire in the all-important decider and provide some support to the in-form Tanzid.

Middle Order and All Rounders – Litton Das (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Rishad Hossain

They also have a balanced middle-order with the experience of former captain Litton Das at number 4, followed by the explosive Towhid Hridoy and the 26-year-old Afif Hossain.

The trio have batted in the series only once, when Bangladesh got bowled out for 114 runs and will be raring to bounce back if the opportunity is presented on Sunday. They will be followed by two all-rounders, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain.

The spin-bowler duo can add runs in the lower middle-order, with the latter having a reputation for scoring at a brisk pace. Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz, with two hundreds and seven fifties, can provide stability, while Rishad can fire on all cylinders to finish the innings well.

So far in the series, Miraz has picked five wickets and conceded only 3.15 runs per over in his 20 overs. On the other hand, Hossain picked a 3/56 in the second ODI and has conceded at 5.73 runs per over this series.

Bowlers – Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana

The Bangladesh pacer trio consists of Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed. Rana ran through the Pakistan batting in the series opener to get a win under their belt. He was awarded Player of the Match for his 5/24.

So far, the senior pros, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed are yet to affect matches with their bowling in the series. 

Following the recent IPL saga, the southpaw has picked 2 wickets in two innings at an economy rate of 5.19 and the best figures of 1/18, while Ahmed has gotten 2 wickets at an economy rate of 5.86.

The others in contention for the bowling spots are left-arm quick Shoriful Islam and left-arm orthodox Tanvir Islam, but the core group, which featured in the first two matches are likely to retain their spots.

Bangladesh likely Playing XI vs Pakistan- 3rd ODI 

Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (wk), Towid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana.

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