Pakistan vs Bangladesh: Champions Trophy 2025 Preview, Time, Venue, Squads

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Pakistan will face Bangladesh in the penultimate Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With both teams already eliminated from the semifinal race, this game provides a final opportunity for them to restore some pride and end their campaigns on a positive note.

Match Details:

Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan  
Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025  
Time: 2:00 PM Local Time (Toss at 1:30 PM)

Team Previews:

Pakistan:

Pakistan’s performance in the Champions Trophy has been disappointing, with defeats against both New Zealand and India. With no chance of progressing to the semifinals, the team will be looking to end the tournament with a better showing. This match could provide an opportunity to experiment with the squad, as several players have yet to feature in the competition. Kamran Ghulam, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Hasnain, and Usman Khan might be given a chance to play. Although the stakes are low, Pakistan will want to give their fans something to cheer about.

Bangladesh:

Bangladesh has also faced struggles in the tournament, losing both to New Zealand and India. Their batting has been inconsistent, failing to put up significant totals. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has acknowledged the need for improvement in this area. This could be the final ODI appearance in an ICC event for veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, as Bangladesh begins to transition to a younger squad. Despite the lack of qualification, the team will aim to end their campaign with a solid performance, especially to honor their senior players.

Pitch Report:  

The Rawalpindi pitch is known for being favorable to batsmen, offering good bounce and pace. It’s expected to be conducive for stroke play, although seamers may get some early movement. Spinners might not have much impact on this surface. Teams chasing totals have historically had an advantage at this venue.

Weather Report: 

The weather in Rawalpindi is forecasted to be cloudy, with a temperature around 75°F (24°C). The forecast suggests mostly cloudy conditions with highs of 77°F (25°C) and lows of 56°F (14°C). After the rain disruption in the Australia-South Africa match earlier this week, there is a chance that rain could again affect the game, possibly causing delays or an abandonment.

Match Prediction:  

With both teams already out of contention for the semifinals, this game is largely about playing for pride. Pakistan, with the advantage of home support, will be keen to finish strong, while Bangladesh will look to give their senior players a fitting send-off. With no pressure to perform, this could be a more free-flowing and open contest, with both teams looking to play their best cricket in their final match of the tournament.

Squads:

Bangladesh Squad:

Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar

Pakistan Squad:

Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (WK/C), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Khan, Faheem Ashraf