No Afridi for Pakistan as Bangladesh elect to bat first

Bangladesh have won the toss against Pakistan and chose to bat first in the first T20I of a three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

Bangladesh begins their quest to regain their self-belief after a dismal outing in the ICC T20 World Cup when Mahmudullah Riyad leads out a relatively young team, and an unfamiliar batting lineup, to take on Pakistan, the semifinalists of the recently-concluded T20 World Cup, who have been in terrific form under skipper Babar Azam and will be looking to continue their momentum.

Opening batter Saif Hassan makes his debut in the T20I and leg-spinner Aminul Islam enters the Bangladesh eleven while Pakistan's pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi sits out. Wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan returns from injury and batter Najmul Hossain Shanto makes the cut into the Bangladesh side. 

Bangladesh starting XI: Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mahmudullah (capt), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Aminul Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman

Pakistan starting XI: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr