3 Bowlers Who Could Define the Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st T20I Showdown

Let’s be honest – Pakistan vs Bangladesh in T20Is has slowly become one of those underdog rivalries where anything can happen. The batting fireworks of these two teams will steal the limelight, but it is the bowlers who we need to talk about today. Both teams have serious pace options, and it promises to be a fast bowlers’ paradise in the first T20I. Whether you enjoy genuine pace, variations, or left-arm swing, there will be a bowler for every individual cricket fan. So, who are the three bowlers most likely to steal the show? Let us list them down.

1. Haris Rauf

Haris Rauf would be the chaos agent if there were a chaos agent in T20 cricket. With 118 wickets in 83 matches, Rauf does not just bowl at speed – he hunts. His strike rate of 15.0 is absurd in this format, which means if you blink, he has already got someone heading back to the dugout. What makes Rauf such a danger is not just his speed (which is up around 150 kph as a matter of course), it is his ability to still be hitting his yorkers at the death and can throw in slower balls when you least expect it. Bangladesh middle order, brace yourselves because Haris is coming in hot, but coming in calculated.

2. Shoriful Islam

Shoriful Islam may not have the headlines or more hype than his peers, but he has left-arm swing and genuine control. In 44 T20Is, he has taken 49 wickets at a very respectable average of 24.28, with a strike rate of 17.9. Against a Pakistani top order that can sometimes struggle with angle and movement early on, Shoriful could be the unassuming disruptor. If he gets the new ball swinging and the conditions offer a bit of grip or seam, don’t be shocked if he gets a couple in the Powerplay. Also, no one talks enough about his ability to break partnerships just when it starts to get dangerous.

3. Naseem Shah

Naseem Shah does not boast the numbers of Rauf (25 wickets from 30 T20Is), but what he does bring is raw pace, tearaway energy with the presence of a racehorse. With an economy of 8.01 and a strike rate of 25.9, he appears less interested in his strike rate than he wants to keep the batters honest and build pressure. And as we all know, pressure is currency in T20. He is the type of bowler that you may not see the best of in the first few overs, but bingo, he selects an over now and again when the pressure is intense. In the end, with his (developing) death-bowling skills and ability to swing the ball up front, he is not back-up, he is within the game plan.

The game was poised to be a bowler’s paradise given Rauf’s merciless aggression, Shoriful’s clever angles, and Naseem’s icy demeanor. All three bowlers each bring their great uniqueness to the game, and in a match where just two/three overs could be the difference, any one of them could potentially turn the game one way or another. Regardless of your team affiliations – team green or support of the Tigers, you should keep an eye on these three every time the ball is in their hands.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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