The first One Day International (ODI) between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled for March 11, 2026, at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. This match is particularly significant as it marks Bangladesh’s return to international cricket after they were excluded from the T20 World Cup due to political tensions with India.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi has confirmed that three players will make their ODI debuts in this match, including top performer Sahibzada Farhan, who scored 383 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026. The match is part of a three-match ODI series between the two teams.
Breaking Development
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first, setting the stage for an exciting contest. The probable XI for Bangladesh includes players like Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, and Mustafizur Rahman, while Pakistan’s lineup features Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi.
Pakistan has made notable changes to their squad, dropping key players such as Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Saim Ayub for this series. Afridi expressed excitement about the new players, stating, “There will be like three debuts, of course. Sahibzada is the top performer in T20s and also in List ‘A’ cricket for Pakistan.” He added, “We are excited to see them play for Pakistan, not just for one series but with the future in mind.”
Despite the absence of a live telecast in India, fans can watch the match through live streaming on the FanCode app and website. Observers note that Bangladesh has shown resilience, having played well against the West Indies recently. Afridi acknowledged this, saying, “Bangladesh are a good side, and they played well against the West Indies. But we are also ready.”
The match is set to start at 2:15 PM Bangladesh Standard Time, which translates to 1:15 AM Pacific Time and 4:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time. As the series unfolds, both teams will be looking to establish their dominance in the ODI format, with the next two matches promising to be equally competitive.
