Emon: We Adapted to the Mirpur Pitch Better Than Pakistan

Bangladesh opener Parvez Hossain Emon believes that the home side adapted to the conditions at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium more effectively than their Pakistani counterparts in the first T20 International, which Bangladesh won convincingly by seven wickets.

Pakistan, after collapsing to 45 for 6 by the eighth over, were eventually bowled out for just 110 runs in 19.3 overs, with most of their batters falling victim to aggressive, mistimed shots.

Emon’s Perspective on the Pitch

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson later criticised the pitch, suggesting that it was “not ideal for anybody.” However, Emon offered a different viewpoint:

“It didn’t seem like a bad pitch to me as we chased the target down in less than 16 overs,”
Emon said during the post-match press conference.
“We could have scored 150–160 runs had we batted the full 20 overs.
Perhaps they couldn’t adjust to the surface, but we certainly adapted better than they did.”

Emon’s Match-Winning Knock

Emon led Bangladesh’s chase with an unbeaten 56 off 39 deliveries, an innings that featured:

His calm and measured approach made batting appear effortless, especially in contrast to Pakistan’s struggles on the sluggish and low-bounce surface.

Assessment of the Conditions and Opposition

“The Mirpur pitch usually favours bowlers. We tried to assess it quickly. That was our first plan,”
Emon explained.

When asked whether Pakistan’s bowling attack was easier to manage than expected, Emon responded modestly:

“Everything seems easy when it goes well. No, they’re not an easy attack at all. They’ve played a lot of international cricket and possess a number of experienced bowlers.”

Ending a Nine-Year Drought Against Pakistan

This victory marked a significant milestone for Bangladesh, as it ended a nine-year losing streak against Pakistan in T20 Internationals.

However, Emon stressed that the players were not dwelling on past records, but instead were focused on the momentum they carried forward from the recent Sri Lanka series, where Bangladesh emerged victorious.

“There was no such discussion about the nine-year wait.
We came back from Sri Lanka after winning the series there,
and that gave us a lot of confidence,” he said.

The win serves as a strong statement from Bangladesh early in the series, highlighting both their adaptability and the confidence of a side looking to establish dominance at home.