Shaheen Shah Afridi<\/a> who has to bring his A-game with the new ball. Afridi has Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim for support, though the spin attack looks a bit thin with only Abrar Ahmed among the experienced bowlers.<\/p>\nForm guide<\/h2>\n Bangladesh<\/b>: WLWLL (Last five completed ODIs, most recent first)Pakistan<\/b>: WWWWL<\/p>\n\nLitton Das got off to a rapid start\u00a0AFP\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\nIn the spotlight: Litton Das & Shaheen Shah Afridi<\/h2>\n Despite his woeful ODI form in the last two years, the selectors welcomed back Litton Das<\/b> into the format, as they hope Litton’s skills against spin will get them back on track. Litton will also retain the ODI gloves, with coach Phil Simmons hoping that batting at No. 5 will also provide him some rest after a wicketkeeping stint. The onus will now be on Litton to improve his ODI form that went kaput as far back as December 2023.<\/p>\n
Shaheen Shah Afridi<\/b> will be looking to make it a hat-trick of ODI series wins as captain after winning 2-1 and 2-0 against South Africa and Sri Lanka respectively in his first two series as skipper. Afridi though, arrived in Bangladesh after a pretty average T20 World Cup campaign, when he took eight wickets but conceded runs at 10.52 per over.<\/p>\nTeam news: Plenty of debutants for Pakistan<\/h2>\n
Litton and Afif will bat in the middle order, while Bangladesh could just go with two pace options.<\/p>\n
Bangladesh (probable XI)<\/b>: 1 Saif Hassan, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Towhid Hridoy, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 5 Litton Das (wk), 6 Afif Hossain, 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Tanvir Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman<\/p>\n\nSahibzada Farhan celebrates a rollicking century\u00a0ICC\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\nODI debutants Farhan, Shamyl and Sadaqat will form the top three, according to captain Afridi. Middle-order batter Abdul Samad is also set to make his debut.<\/p>\n
Pakistan (probable XI)<\/b>: 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Maaz Sadaqat, 3 Shamyl Hussain, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Hussain Talat, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), 10 Mohammad Wasim, 11 Faisal Akram<\/p>\nPitch and conditions<\/h2>\n
West Indies and Bangladesh bowled spin in 84 percent of their overs in the previous ODI series played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. In one game, West Indies bowled 50 overs of spin. It should tell you what to expect in this venue, although both coaches Phil Simmons and Mike Hesson have said that they have seen an improved surface ahead of the first ODI. The weather forecast says there could be unseasonal rain in the afternoon.<\/p>\n