Bangladesh - Pakistan T20I combined XI

The ICC World T20 has begun and eternal rivals Bangladesh and Pakistan face off in the second match of the tournament. This is a clash that has a lot of historical significance with tensions always running high during the encounter.There was once a time when Bangladesh – Pakistan encounters were nothing but a formality with the latter battering the Tigers with ease. However, the tables have turned. In fact, they have spun so much that Pakistan have failed to win a single game against their rivals in the last 5 international attempts.With this highly anticipated clash about to commence soon, here is a combined XI consisting of the best of Bangladesh and Pakistan on current form.

#1 Tamim Iqbal

Tamim Iqbal is in the form of his life

This is a no-brainer, really. The man is in the form of his life, having scored a century in his last game against Oman, and is yet to be dismissed in the tournament with three not-out innings in a row — all of them being at a blistering pace.

His 83 not-out against the Netherlands made the difference in that game. Similarly, his blazing 47 was a treat to watch even if it didn’t lead to a win. And finally, his absolutely terrific knock against Oman displayed the class he possesses.

Tamim was always a talented player, arguably the most talented in the team. If one looks at his career dismissals, they will realise that most of the time, he just threw his wicket away with rash shots. Nowadays, however, he plays with a calm head over his shoulder and the rewards are being reaped by the team.

#2 Soumya Sarkar

Soumya Sarkar is yet to shine in T20Is

Tamim Iqbal has been the only constant in this team’s opening slot for the last decade. Many openers have come and gone, but Tamim Iqbal has stood like a mountain in the midst of a tornado. Be it Mohammed Ashraful or Anamul Bijoy or Imrul Kayes, Tamim never really found a partner with whom he could fully express himself with confidence.

However, all that changed when Soumya Sarkar arrived in the team. His rise to the starting XI has been quicker than the fall of math rock, and Tamim Iqbal’s best has been unleashed ever since.

His exceptional performances against India, Pakistan and South Africa made him a star overnight and Bangladesh are counting on him to play a strong support role for the in-form Tamim Iqbal, even though we are yet to see his absolute best in the 20 overs format.

#3 Sabbir Rahman

Sabbir in action against India

Another star on the rise, Sabbir Rahman has been one of the most consistent players in the team since his arrival, so much that he has cemented his spot as the number three in ODIs.

His best ability is his confidence and the way he builds an innings. As a number three, he is like a pillar on which the team’s innings stand. Indeed, a closer look at the stats reveals that Bangladesh’s top three score 60% of their runs in T20Is, further testifying his importance.

His numbers in T20Is are incredible as well. With an average of 33.06, he has scored 529 runs in 21 innings at a strike-rate of 122.17, making him a must-have for almost any team.

#4 Umar Akmal

Akmal could be the X factor for Pakistan

When he burst into the scene, many expected his career figures to touch Sachin Tendulkar’s level by the time he hung up his boots, while also becoming Pakistan’s greatest ever in the process. However, since the turn of the new decade, he hasn’t been even half the player that got Pakistani fans excited about the future.

However, he is still more than a handy player when it comes to playing in the shorter format — something he has shown time and again.

With a healthy average of 27.30 and a strike-rate of 122.97, he is one of the best quick run getters in the team--someone who is expected to get the extra 10 runs by the end of the innings. Coming off of a good PSL as well as Asia Cup, one can expect him to continue his form in the World T20.

#5 Mahmudullah Riyad

Riyad could light up Bangladesh’s innings

He is dubbed as the Dark Knight of the Bangladesh cricket team — and rightfully so. He is what the team needs him to be; be it a sheet-anchor balancing an innings or a slogger rampaging the score to a competitive total.

He has had his bouts of inconsistencies, but over the past year, he has affirmed his position as an indispensable star for the Tigers.

His numbers might not be inspiring. In fact, they are just about decent. However, on current form, he makes it to the team. He had such a great Asia Cup that not one bowler—apart from Ashish Nehra in the first game — could get him out and as he slashed Bangladesh on their way to the final.

With such rich vein of form under his belt, Bangladeshi fans expect him to finish games off.

#6 Shakib al-Hasan

Shakib could be the difference maker for Bangladesh

There is no reasoning needed to justify his selection in the team. He is currently the best all-rounder in the world and would walk into any team on any given day.

His addition to any team is like having two players simultaneously as he is equally good with both and the ball. He might have his fits of rage every now and then, something that gets him into trouble quite often, but that doesn’t undermine his abilities as a player.

In the shortest international format of the game, he has 996 runs — second highest by any Bangladeshi player — in just 50 innings, with a tremendous average of 23.16 and a quick strike-rate of 122.20. His bowling stats are even better as he has taken 69 wickets in 50 innings with an economy rate of under seven. A truly world class player in every sense.

#7 Sarfraz Ahmed

Sarfraz in action against England

When someone has been chosen over Mushfiqur Rahim – Bangladesh’s most consistent player in all three formats for quite a while now – you know that that player is special.

While it is true that Rahim is going through somewhat of a rough patch, it is not the reason why Sarfaraz is on this list. He is here purely on his own merit. In a Pakistan team that disappoints more than in inflicts joy, he has been seen as the bright ray of hope that can lift the team up.

The man had a fine time during the Asia Cup and was largely impressive in the games that he batted in. His numbers are good too. In just 12 innings, he has 270 runs — something that is admirable for a person who bats deep down in the batting order — with an average of 30 and a strike-rate of 120, making him the wicketkeeper in this team.

#8 Shahid Afridi

Can Afridi go out with a bang?

These days, he can be seen as a specialist bowler since one can probably remember the time when Justin Bieber was a good singer, but not when Afridi was a good batsman. However, it doesn’t matter for he is one of the most devastating bowlers in this version and his numbers just prove that.

In T20Is, there is not another player who has picked up more wickets than ‘Lala’. Indeed, there are times when he is unplayable as batsmen find no answer to his fury.

With 93 wickets in 92 innings, he is the leading wicket-taker in T20Is, but that is not all. He also boasts a superb economy rate of under 6.5, something that is much more of a satisfying stat. His batting comes handy at rare times, too, as his strike-rate of 148.92 can really do damage.

#9 Mohammed Amir

Amir hasn’t lost any of his bowling skills for Pakistan

After a period of exile from the Pakistan cricket team, Mohammed Amir is back with a bang — and it began in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Since returning, he has continuously taken wickets while only bleeding out some runs. Indeed, his match against UAE in the Asia Cup saw him create a record of the most number of dot balls bowled in a T20I game with a record figure of 21 dots in 24 balls.

In 25 innings, he has picked up 31 wickets at an average of just 20 and an astonishing economy rate of 6.97. His current form will make you wonder as to whether he actually served the suspension sentence that was placed over him for fixing offenses.

#10 Taskin Ahmed

Taskin Ahmed is part of the Bangladesh pace-attack

When India won the World Cup in 2011, almost every fan lauded Zaheer Khan as one of the pillars on which the success was built and they were right. However, the one who was the pillar of Zaheer Khan’s success was unsung of hero: Munaf Patel.

His economic spells of tight line and length built pressure on the opponents, giving Zaheer Khan the perfect platform to attack and take wickets. And Taskin Ahmed might just be that version of Munaf Patel.

His blazing fast bowling at the Asia Cup — clocking 145+ kmph almost every ball — was the perfect complement to Al-Amin Hossain, who was surprisingly at his wicket-taking best in the tournament. Even Mustafizur Rahman has Taskin to thank for as the former picks up a lot of wickets with him at the other end.

Taskin might not be among the best wicket-takers, but his economy rate of under seven reveals the reason of his existence within the team.

#11 Mustafizur Rahman

Rahman came into the limelight with his excellent bowling against India

Left-arm pacers are the trend now. When Mitchell Starc came into the scene, he exploded. Similarly, Mohammed Amir came in all-guns-blazing with his wrath. And then there is this guy: Mustafizur Rahman.

Despite having played only nine ODIs in 2015, he was voted into the team of the year — it just works as a testament to his impact in the team. His stats are something dreams are made of. In none of the formats does his bowling average go above 19 and economy rate above six.

Indeed, his average in T20I is 17, but the best part is his economy rate of 5.61 — something that borders on magical in the shortest format of the game. His slower ones are almost unreadable and has got him a lot of wickets.