Bangladesh vs. Pakistan, 1st ODI: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

Bangladesh face Pakistan in the first match of the three-ODI series in Mirpur on Friday. The hosts will look to build on the form that took them to a surprise quarter-final appearance in the recent World Cup.

For Pakistan, it's the start of a new era, with Azhar Ali replacing the retired Misbah-ul-Haq as captain.

Let's see how the two sides shape up.

Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

Date: Friday, 17 April

Time: 2:30 p.m. local time/9:30 a.m. BST

Live on: PTV, Ten Sports (Pakistan), Gazi TV (Bangladesh), Willow TV (USA), Star Sports (India), Super Sports (Europe).

Weather: It should be dry and bright for the most part, according to AccuWeather, but there's a chance of an odd thunderstorm during the afternoon.

Overview

We've been here before with Bangladesh. They have impressed in previous tournaments but have never managed to build something big from promising foundations. Will this time be any different? Perhaps.

In Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah, they have a pair of match-winning batsmen. Sabbir Rahman appears in fine touch too, scoring a century for the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Shakib Al Hasan provides quality with bat and ball, and in Rubel Hossain, they finally have someone capable of giving opposition batsmen the hurry-up.

Bangladesh have freshened up their squad by adding uncapped batsmen Rony Talukdar and all-rounder Abul Hassan.

Talukdar is someone to keep an eye on. The 24-year-old was the leading scorer in Bangladesh's domestic 50-over competition, and his call-up appears to have come at just the right time.

While Bangladesh are looking to consolidate, Pakistan are in rebuilding mode. The side will have an unfamiliar look in Mirpur minus the recently retired Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi. Also absent are the dropped Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad and the injured Mohammad Irfan and Sohail Khan.

Despite the notable absentees, coach Waqar Younis is bullish about his side's chances. Speaking at a press conference, the former pace ace said, "It's a new era and with these new boys I am optimistic that they can serve Pakistan for long from here. Talent is there but it is all about opportunities, which they have and now I am hopeful that they will do well in the upcoming Bangladesh series."

New skipper Azhar Ali will enjoy the return of spinner Saeed Ajmal and left-arm seamer Junaid Khan.

As has often been the case for Pakistan in recent outings, how the batsmen perform will be the key to victory, a fact acknowledged by the new captain.

"Bowlers definitely did well in the World Cup so we are going to rely on them, but it's important that batsmen should also feel the sense of responsibility," Ali told reporters.

Despite having lost only once to Bangladesh, Pakistan won't be underestimating the hosts, especially following the defeat to the BCB XI.

"The way Bangladesh have improved recently they are a fine side and we can't take them easy," Waqar told reporters.

Mohammad Hafeez and Fawad Alam were the picks of the batsmen in the warm-up against the Board XI on Wednesday. Saeed Ajmal got some important overs in too, and Junaid Khan impressed.

They will need to improve if they're to avoid a surprise on Friday, though.

Squads

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Shakib Al Hasan (vice-capt), Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Rony Talukdar, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Abul Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Arafat Sunny

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Azhar Ali (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Sohail, Sohaib Maqsood, Sami Aslam, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Junaid Khan

Key Players

Bangladesh

Mahmudullah was one of the best batsmen on show at the recent World Cup. More runs from him will be crucial to Bangladesh's chances.

Conditions in Mirpur are likely to suit the spinners, and in Shakib Al Hasan, they have one of the best around. Rubel Hossain has the pace to shake up most batting lineups. Pakistan's looks particularly fragile at the moment. Hossain could have a big series.

Pakistan

Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq was the proverbial "safe pair of hands" in Pakistan's often inconsistent top order. Skipper Azhar Ali has big shoes to fill, but he has the talent to do so.

The return of Saeed Ajmal is a huge boost for Pakistan. If his remodelled action can work as much magic as the old one, they have a real match-winner on their hands.

Prediction

With Pakistan in rebuilding mode, Bangladesh will rarely have a better opportunity to spring a surprise.

The visitors still have plenty of class, though, in the form of Wahab Riaz and an in-form Mohammad Hafeez. The return of Saeed Ajmal will be crucial too.

Bangladesh will run them close, but Pakistan should have just enough to win.