Bangladesh vs Pakistan, Only T20I - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

After a 3-match ODI series, the action now shifts to the shortest format of the game as Bangladesh and Pakistan lock horns in the one-off T20I in Mirpur. Shahid Afridi, who has retired from ODIs, will be back for this game, leading the side against the Bangladeshi Tigers. Under his captaincy, Pakistan will look to put the 3-0 whitewash behind them and hope to make amends for their poor show.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh have added three new players - Rony Talukdar, Mustafizur Rahman and Litton Das to their squad for this game. Rubel Hossain is however rested keeping the upcoming Test series in mind.

Both the teams will have an eye on the World T20 to be played in the sub-continent in a year's time. Teams may not play many international T20s in between and any chance will need to be capitalized.

Shahid Afridi won the toss on a dry looking surface in Mirpur and elected to bat. Mashrafe Mortaza, on the other hand, said he would have bowled anyway. A win-win then for both captains on a day when as many as four players made their T20 debuts.

For Bangladesh:Soumya Sarkar and Mustafizur Rahman

For Pakistan:Mukhtar Ahemd and Mohammad Rizwan

Pakistan: Hafeez, Shehzad, Sohail, Rizwan, Sarfraz, Afridi, Mukhtar, Tanvir, Wahab, Gul, Ajmal.
Pakistan: Hafeez, Shehzad, Sohail, Rizwan, Sarfraz, Afridi, Mukhtar, Tanvir, Wahab, Gul, Ajmal.

Mustafizur, the left-arm fast medium bowler, started proceedings against fellow debutant Mukhtar Ahmed. The left-armer started positively and was assisted by the greenish tinge on the Mirpur surface. Ahmed Shehzad played and missed one and played uppishly at another as he looked to stamp his authority on the game. The "whippy" medium-pacer conceded just the 4 of his first over.

Mortaza brought on the wily Shakib-Al-Hasan from the other end and the talented all-rounder used all his guile to keep both the debutant Mukhtar and Shehzad in check. Pakistan's openers were keen on using their feet to the spinner but failed to read the bowler's lengths.

Mustafizur continued to impress in his second over and piled on the pressure on Ahmed Shehzad by beating him by bowling the away swingers from the natural left-armer's angle. Shehzad looked all at sea with his footwork and struggled to get bat on ball save for a single off the last ball. Impressive start from young Mustafizur.

Strangely, Mortaza brought himself onto the attack in the next over - Just a one over spell for Shakib - and despite bowling four good deliveries, was taken for a couple of boundaries by Mukhtar Ahmed. Something had to give, Pakistan were getting stuck. Pitch doesn't look that easy to bat on either.

Mortaza introduced the spin of Arafat Sunny within the powerplay, a ploy that backfired as it allowed the struggling Ahmed Shehzad to get going with a couple of boundaries by using his feet. Mukhtar added a four himself as Pakistan reached 29/0 after 5 overs.

Shakib then bowled the final over within the batting powerplay and should have dismissed Mukhtar but Mushfiqur Rahim missed a tough stumping chance to give the Pakistan debutant a vital reprieve. Just two off that over and Pakistan were 31/0 after 6 overs.

Smart captaincy by Mortaza who brought on the unpredictable Taskin Ahmed for his first over straight after the powerplay. The young speedster bowled an top-notch first over to a visibly struggling Ahmed Shehzad who had reached 14 having consumed almost 4 and a half overs himself. Whoa!

Shehzad's struggles continued in the next over. bowled by Mortaza. He looked to hit the ball hard and succeeded in only getting a couple and a single. Mukhtar however had no such trouble and picked up a four to take PAK to 43/0 after 8 overs. Need to get a move on here. Poor start!

Shehzad's 31-ball struggle was ended by Taskin Ahmed, who in his second over, got the flamboyant opener to mistime a drive and captain Mashrafe Mortaza completed a fine catch at long off. Shehzad looked woefully out of touch from the first ball and had laboured his way to a slow 17. Following his dismissal, captain Shahid Afridi promoted himself up to No. 3 in a bid to increase the run-rate. Pakistan managed to score only 53 in 10 overs. Slow, slow start!