PAK VS BAN - Super Fours, 1st Match, Asia Cup, 2023

So a morale boosting win for Pakistan before the big one against India all over again (hopefully they get to bat this time). For Bangladesh, they take on Sri Lanka next, and that's another rivalry that's been bubbling under the surface. The Asia Cup heats up, we'll continue to bring you the action. For now, this is Saurabh Shankar signing off on behalf of Abhinand Raghavendran and Harish.

Our #FantasyHandbook experts had a bumper day in the office. We suggested having Haris Rauf and Imam as the C/VC options. Subscribe to #CricbuzzPlus to get such exclusive tips...

Haris Rauf | Player of the Match: It was hot out there, but I've played a lot of cricket here. I play PSL for Lahore, the crowd always expects us to perform here. Before any game, we do plan as a bowling unit. We talk about bowling to different plans based on the game phase. Hard length was tough to play here, and the plan was to keep bowling stump to stump. Didn't need to go to the yorker today. I keep working hard and I have high goals for myself, I want to be the Player of the Series in this Asia Cup, let's see how the tournament proceeds.

Babar Azam: Too much heat, but full credit to the fast bowlers. First Shaheen and then Haris Rauf. We planned on picking Faheem because we saw the pitches here, there was grass on it and we like that also. Always when we play here, the crowd supports us and I hope all of them enjoyed this match. (On playing India) This win will give us confidence, we are always ready for a big match. We will give our 100% in the next match.

Shakib Al Hasan: We lost at the start, they bowled really well and we played some ordinary shots. On a wicket like this, we shouldn't have lost four wickets in 10 overs. We had a very good partnership, we should have got going for 7-8 overs. After I got out, there were no more partnerships. Very poor batting display on a surface like this. We have to take it on our chin and move to the next one as we have another game in a couple of days. They (Pakistan) are the number one team, they've got three world-class frontline bowlers. If they can do that, it gets easier for their batsmen. We have been doing well in our bowling department. Batting at this moment is little bit hot and cold. We need to be consistent and that's what we'll try to do. Our three seamers bowled brilliantly. They have been bowling well for the last couple of years. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the wickets. It wasn't a pitch where you can get wickets unless batsmen make a mistake. When I played the LPL, the pitches were slow. If that happens, it suit us better. Hopefully we do well in Colombo.

Imam ul Haq: Not the most fluent innings. The ball was seaming around, but I'm happy because I've been working on my backfoot game. We discussed about NRR, we thought we could chase within 36 overs and luckily me and Rizwan had a good partnership, and we could close the game like this. (On the pacers) They are remarkable, I want them to bowl another 2 months like this. God bless them!

Most wins against an opponent in the ODI Asia Cup:
13 - Pakistan vs Bangladesh (14 mats)*
12 - Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh (14)
11 - India vs Bangladesh (12)
10 - Sri Lanka vs India (19)
10 - Sri Lanka vs Pakistan (14)

21:20 Local Time, 16:20 GMT, 21:50 IST: The final game in Pakistan of the Asia Cup ends with a dominant win for the hosts. A win set up by their pace trio, while Imam at Rizwan added the gloss with the bat. With just 194 to defend, Bangladesh huffed and puffed with the ball. They kept bowling tight lengths and their pacers didn't relent, but the pitch offered them close to nothing. Fakhar Zaman's lean spell continued, and Babar got a delivery that kept low. Imam survived a few close LBW shouts to continue his love affair with Lahore - that's 2 fifties and 2 hundreds from him at this venue now. Rizwan found some form as well to end unbeaten on 63, as Pakistan claimed a routine win with more than 10 overs to spare. Onto the presentations...

Shakib to Agha Salman, FOUR, a reverse sweep to win it!! A flighted delivery from Shakib, Agha Salman reverse sweeps it to the left of short third for a boundary. Pakistan win by 7 wickets!!

Shakib to Rizwan, 1 run, flat on middle, pulled towards deep square leg

Shakib to Agha Salman, 1 run, flighted outside off, swept across the line towards deep backward square leg

Shamim Hossain to Rizwan, FOUR, fired in delivery, Rizwan uses his feet again and drives it over extra cover for a boundary. One hit away now!!

Shamim Hossain to Rizwan, no run, dances out and drives to mid-off

Shamim Hossain to Agha Salman, 1 run, short and chasing the batter who backed away. Slapped towards long-on

Shamim Hossain to Rizwan, 1 run, flat delivery, punched down to long-on

Shamim Hossain to Agha Salman, 1 run, fired in at the stumps, Salman dances out to drive to long-on

Shamim Hossain to Rizwan, 1 run, low full toss, swept towards deep backward square leg. Just a single

Shamim Hossain, right-arm off break, comes into the attack

Shakib to Agha Salman, no run, slow and spinning away, Salman tried to cut but missed out

Shakib to Rizwan, 1 run, flat on off stump, punched down to long-off