Bangladesh won a memorable win in a nail-biting second T20I against Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur. It was a low-scoring game in the second match, full of drama and pressure, but the home team held their nerves to win by 8 runs and take a 2-0 lead in the series. Bangladesh didn’t start well with the bat. They lost four big wickets inside the first six overs, including both openers and captain Litton Das. At 28-4, things looked tough.

But Jaker Ali stepped up and played a brave knock. He added 53 runs with Mahedi Hasan and brought some hope back. Jaker hit five sixes and one four in his 55-run innings before getting out in the later stage. Thanks to him, Bangladesh reached 133 runs in 20 overs. For Pakistan, bowlers Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, and Abbas Afridi all took two wickets each.

Pakistan had a poor start to their chase. They lost five wickets for just 17 runs in the powerplay. Shoriful Islam and Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled with fire and kept the pressure on.

Faheem Ashraf gave Pakistan some hope with a quick 51 from 32 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes. But once he got bowled by Rishad Hossain in the 19th over, the match turned again. Pakistan were bowled out for 125, falling short by 8 runs in the final over. It was a great team effort by Bangladesh, especially their bowlers, who kept calm and bowled very well under pressure. With this win, they sealed the T20I series 2-0 at home.

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Twitter reactions after Bangladesh Script Historic Series Win Over Pakistan by 8 Runs

Bangladesh won by 8 runs and also won the series #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/6FckxgIlMB

— Sama Umair (@umair6723) July 22, 2025

🚨BANGLADESH BOWLED PAKISTAN OUT FOR 125 RUNS AND WON THE SERIES 2-0!

- Good fight by Ahmed Daniyal and Faheem Ashraf but all in vain💔. Congratulations to Bangladeshi fans🙌🏼❤️#PakvsBan pic.twitter.com/cbRoyu6klO

— Rayham (@RayhamUnplugged) July 22, 2025

13 runs to defend. 6 balls to go.
But Bangladesh bowlers stood like a wall! 🧱🔥
What a clutch final over to seal an 8-run win vs Pakistan!
Low score – big drama! 💥
Defended like champions! 🇧🇩#BANvsPAK #LastOverThriller #BangladeshCricket #T20Drama #PakvsBan pic.twitter.com/bRm8poIc06

— Cricket__Cinema (@cricket_cinima) July 22, 2025

Unacceptable result.. no way.. Bangladesh beat pak by 8 runs and won the series too..#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/oxwLTu3cWi

— Shakeel Khan Khattak (@ShakeelktkKhan) July 22, 2025

BAN 133 (20)
PAK 125 (19.2)

Bangladesh have won by 8 runs. pic.twitter.com/Hgf4uXdYhV

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) July 22, 2025

Let's laugh at Pakistan for this mighty performance against Bangladesh, if one team is garbage the other is no less than trash. pic.twitter.com/0XOQyvdsjR

— 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗫 (@CricketGlimpseX) July 22, 2025

Bangladesh clinch the match by 8 runs and seal the series 2-0 🇧🇩
A spirited fightback from Pakistan; from 15/5 to taking it to the final over!
Faheem Ashraf and debutant Ahmed Daniyal deserve massive credit for their grit and fight 👏🏻🔥#PakistanCricket #pakvsban pic.twitter.com/eS3DmIV9zK

— ProSports (@ProSportsStudio) July 22, 2025

Bangladesh beats Pakistan by eight runs in last over thriller!

Once again Pakistan gone😀😀
Jay Shah ki saazish hai 🤣 #PakistanCricket #PakvsBan pic.twitter.com/bLSs7C3AdL

— Kapadia CP (@Ckant72) July 22, 2025

Visitors Bangladesh leveled the T20I series by 1-1 with the third and last to go after bundling out Sri Lanka for only 94 runs to register the second largest T20I win for the Tigers. 

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh 2025, 2nd T20I: A lot of histories 

Leading the home T20I series by 1-0, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka chose to field first after winning the toss in the second T20I at Dambulla. While Bangladesh scored 177/7 in 20 overs, Sri Lanka were bundled out for only 94 runs, as Bangladesh won by 84 runs. While it was the second-largest T20I win (by runs) for Bangladesh, it was also Sri Lanka's second-largest T20I defeat (by runs) at home after recording their lowest T20I total (completed) at home. 

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Litton Das and Shamim Hossain performed strongly after opening flops

The visitors had a poor start as they lost both the openers in the first two overs (Parvez Hossain Emon 0 and Tanzid Hasan 5), while they scored 39/2 at the end of the powerplay, courtesy of a steady partnership between captain Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy. They ultimately built up a 69-run partnership for the third wicket, where Hridoy scored 31 off 25 balls with two fours and one six.

Although Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1) only stayed for two balls, Das had another strong support from Shamim Hossain, as they set up a 77-run partnership for the fifth wicket. While the skipper scored 76 off 50 balls with one four and five sixes, Hossain was run out in the final over after scoring 48 off 27 balls with five fours and two sixes. 

Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Binura Fernando took three wickets (3/31), while Nuwan Thushara (1/30) and Maheesh Theekshana (1/30) got one wicket each. 

Sri Lanka never coped with poor start

In reply, Sri Lanka were struggling at 37/4 at the end of the powerplay, and the innings was completed in 15.2 overs, as Sri Lanka were all out for 94. Only the opener Pathum Nissanka (32) and Dasun Shanaka (20) reached double-digit scores in that innings.  

All five Bangladesh bowlers managed to pick up at least one wicket. While Rishad Hossain bagged three wickets (3/18), Shoriful Islam (2/12) and Mohammad Saifuddin (2/21) got two wickets each, and Mustafizur Rahman (1/14) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1/26) had one wicket each. 

Bangladesh’s ODI series against Sri Lanka ended in disappointment. The visitors lost the series 2-1 after a heavy 99-run defeat in the third and final ODI.

Many things are being questioned about the Tigers’ performance, but one big talking point is the absence of leg-spinner Rishad Hossain during the whole series. Even though Rishad was part of the squad, he did not play a single match. Instead, left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam played in all three games. He also took a match-winning five-wicket haul in the second ODI, which helped Bangladesh level the series.

Why Rishad Hossain Didn’t Play – Captain Miraz Explains

Originally, Rishad Hossain was in the team’s plans for the first ODI. But an illness at the wrong time ruled him out of the match. This gave Tanvir Islam a chance to play — and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. After his match-winning five-wicket haul in the second ODI, he kept his place in the team for the rest of the series.

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Captain Miraz Clears the Air

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz explained why Rishad was not picked again: "(smiles) Look, if a player takes five wickets and wins you the match, you can’t really drop him. On turning pitches, we often go with three spinners and two pacers. But in this series, the pitch supported pace more. You could see that most of the wickets — for both teams — went to fast bowlers. So, tactically, it made sense to keep that combination. We are not too worried about it."

Sri Lanka Seals the Series with a Big Win

In the final ODI, Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis played a brilliant knock, scoring 124 off 114 balls. Their pace bowlers also did well, each taking three wickets. Sri Lanka won the match by 99 runs and clinched the series 2-1.

Mendis Praises Bangladesh

Speaking in Sinhalese during the post-match press conference (with his media manager translating), Kusal Mendis said: "Bangladesh are a strong Test-playing team. Yes, they are in a transition phase, but their batting, bowling, and fielding still show good quality. With time, they will bounce back and return to their best."

England pacer Tom Curran and Bangladeshi leg-spinner Rishad Hossain were both part of the Lahore Qalandars squad in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, due to the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, the tournament was abruptly postponed, prompting players to return home. Rishad Hossain flew back to Bangladesh via Dubai on May 10, while Tom Curran also left for England. The situation caused significant concern among players, with tensions high and uncertainty affecting the squad's mental well-being.

During a brief media interaction at Dubai Airport, Rishad Hossain opened up about the anxiety within the Lahore Qalandars camp amid the political crisis. He mentioned how the India-Pakistan conflict instilled fear among players, including international stars. Rishad went on to make surprising revelations about teammate Tom Curran, highlighting the unease and panic that gripped the team during their stay in Pakistan. His comments offered a glimpse into the emotional toll the situation had on foreign players, many of whom were caught off guard by the sudden escalation and abrupt disruption to the tournament.

 "When Tom Curran arrived at the airport and heard that the flights were suspended, he started crying like a child. Two or three people had to handle him," Rishad said in an interview.

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Curran finally reveals what happened

After staying silent for a long time, Curran has finally responded to Rishad’s comments. The England pacer, who won the ODI World Cup, has completely denied what his Lahore teammate said. India and Pakistan have already declared a ceasefire with the help of US President Donald Trump. The PSL started again on 17th May. Rishad will not play the rest of the tournament as he is now in the Bangladesh squad for their tour of the United Arab Emirates. But Curran has returned to Pakistan.

Yesterday, Curran took a photo with two members of Pakistan’s Border Guard Rangers. He posted it on his Instagram story and wrote, "I am happy to see the game (PSL) starting again. I pray for peace between the two special countries. But I swear, I did not cry. I was ready to play."

Rishad has also apologized for his comments. On the night of May 11, he wrote on social media, "The comments I made in a short interview with Bangladeshi journalists at Dubai airport did not fully explain the situation. I also said things emotionally. I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding. I have given an unconditional apology to Tom Curran."

The 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) turned into a nightmare for foreign players when a missile struck an airport 20 minutes after they were about to fly out of Pakistan. Bangladeshi cricketer Rishad landed safely in Dubai and expressed great relief to media persons, who termed the experience as "petrifying." "Alhamdulillah, we landed in Dubai despite a crisis," he added, remembering his team's dread at hearing the news of the attack after the touchdown. Against a backdrop of heightened tensions and bombings in Pakistan, the attack left players and families in shock. Rishad's parents, always concerned for his safety, were especially traumatized by the unstable environment, with news of the attack being received by them as both "frightening and tragic."

Foreign players such as Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kushal Perera, David Wiese, and Tom Curran were also deeply shaken. Mitchell, according to Rishad, promised never to visit Pakistan again under such conditions, and others were also equally outraged. Nahid Rana was visibly shocked and couldn't say a word during the crisis. "I kept saying to him, relax," said Rishad, underlining the relief of having arrived at Dubai. The episode has raised grave questions about the PSL's capacity to hold on to overseas talent, with the fear of narrowly avoiding harm hanging over it, threatening to tarnish the league's global image.

Tom Curran's Emotional Breakdown

England's Tom Curran had a particularly traumatic experience. Rishad spoke of how Curran had heard the airport was closed after the missile strike and broke down in tears. "He was crying like a kid," Rishad said, as teammates moved to comfort him. The psychological impact of this close brush with disaster has left a lasting scar, potentially deterring overseas players from future PSL involvement.

SHOCKING EXPERIENCE FOR OVERSEAS PLAYERS IN PSL. 🤯 [Cricbuzz] pic.twitter.com/GVhhXJARxp

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 10, 2025

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The incident highlights the broader challenges of hosting global sporting events in regions with geopolitical volatility. The psychological impact on players and added uncertainty about logistics create an extraordinary cognitive burden for organizers of the PSL to manage the safety and security dimensions. The ability to reassure international stars about their safety is critical. Otherwise, the league may lose its attractiveness, as players will likely opt for their own safety over participating in a potentially dangerous environment.

Three Bangladeshi cricketers Liton Das, Nahid Rana, and Rishad Hossain have submitted their applications to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to feature in the coming Pakistan Super League (PSL 2025), which will be held from April 11 to May 18.

• Litton Das has been selected by Karachi Kings as a wicketkeeper-batter.
• Pacer Nahid Rana has been selected by Peshawar Zalmi.
• Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain will play for Lahore Qalandars.

Their involvement in the PSL, though, might be complicated by Bangladesh's Test series against Zimbabwe, scheduled from April 20 to May 2. The BCB is yet to decide if it will give the players clearance to play in the league, given that the Test series is crucial for the national team.

BCB's in-charge cricket operations, Shahriar Nafees, said that the board is positively inclined towards giving NOCs in general, but they will have to take the players' availability and national engagement into account. As Liton and Nahid are members of Bangladesh's Test team, they are a matter of concern from the availability angle during this time. Rishad, though, is not a member of the Test side and is thus more likely to get the approval.

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The BCB will make the official announcement soon after factoring in the availability of the players for international duty. The BCB will also take care while addressing Nahid Rana's workload, not wishing for him to work himself to exhaustion in the PSL while balancing his national duties.

The addition of the trio to the PSL is pending the final decision of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The fans will be keen to learn whether the players can showcase their talent in the Pakistan Super League this season.