Pakistan Cricket Team, Mohsin Naqvi face ICC Trophy jibe: Pakistan cricket hit a new low on Sunday after it lost a three-ODI series to Bangladesh. The series loss marked the start of Pakistan’s rebuilding phase after an early T20 World Cup exit on a losing note. In the series-deciding third ODI, Salman Ali Agha’s century wasn’t enough as Bangladesh beat the new-look Pakistan by 11 runs in the final one-day international to win the series 2-1. Agha hit 106 off 98 balls, but his dismissal in the 48th over saw Pakistan eventually getting bowled out for 279, with skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi stumped off the final ball of the doomed chase.

Former Pakistan star Kamran Akmal, who has also served as a selector, was furious after the loss. “The condition is such that now even Netherlands would want to play a series against us, then beat us and get Test status. This is the condition of Pakistan cricket now,” Akmal said in a discussion.

“They (Bangladesh) could have easily scored 350 today, but scored only 290. Litton Das played slowly. Even then we lost.”

He went on to take a swipe at Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is infamous for taking away the 2025 Asia Cup trophy after winners India refused to accept it from him. The champions are yet to receive the trophy, as it reportedly lies in Naqvi’s office.

“If you don’t beat teams in matches, will you now steal ICC trophies and bring them home?” Akmal said.

Opening batter Tanzid Hasan‘s (107) first ODI hundred had earlier propelled Bangladesh to 290-5 after Afridi won the toss and elected to field on the same bouncy wicket where Pakistan was bowled out for 114 in the first game, which Bangladesh won by eight wickets.

Bangladesh lost the second ODI by 128 runs under the DLS Method when it was also dismissed for 114.

“Definitely (it) was an excellent match,” Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said. “It was an excellent wicket and if we got 300 it would be better, but we are playing well, especially the way Tanzid batted.”

A revamped Pakistan, which awarded six ODI debuts in the series, struggled to cope with the pace of Taskin Ahmed (4-49) and Nahid Rana (2-62), and slipped to 17-3 after the first three overs of its chase.

Taskin had Sahibzada Farhan caught behind off a nippy short ball before rattling the off stump of Mohammad Rizwan (4). Rana continued to impress with his pace in the series when opener Maaz Sadaqat (6) lobbed an easy catch behind after a mistimed pull shot.

Ghazi Ghori (29) and Abdul Samad (34), two of the six Pakistan debutants in the series, revived the chase with a 50-run stand before Pakistan lost both of them to Bangladesh’s pace attack and slipped to 82-5 in the 18th over.

But Agha brought Pakistan back into the hunt with a 79-run stand with Saad Masood (38) and added 52 runs with Afridi for the eighth wicket. Agha completed his third ODI hundred off 89 balls with nine fours and four sixes, before Taskin deceived the batter with a slower ball and had him caught at deep mid-wicket.

With 28 needed off the final two overs, Afridi smacked Mustafizur Rahman (3-54) for two big sixes in the penultimate over and reduced the target to 14 off the final six balls. Rishad Hossain stayed calm and had Afridi stumped to complete a memorable series win for Bangladesh.

Former India player Aakash Chopra has reckoned that lower-middle-order batting could be the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) biggest challenge in IPL 2026. He noted that Josh Inglis will find it difficult if he is asked to bat at No. 6 or No. 7.

LSG acquired Inglis for ₹8.60 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. However, it’s unclear whether the Australian wicketkeeper-batter would be available for the entirety of the upcoming edition of the prestigious league.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener highlighted the Lucknow Super Giants‘ lower-middle-order batting challenges heading into IPL 2026.

“What are the weaknesses? Instead of weaknesses, I am looking towards challenges. If Josh Inglis plays in the lower-middle order, it means four overseas batters would play, but Josh Inglis is at his best if you play him in the top four. If you give him the No. 6 or No. 7 role, it’s a difficult role to play,” he said.

While acknowledging that LSG have a few decent Indian lower-middle-order batters, Chopra pointed out that they lack experience.

“You see slight problems with players there. Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad and Shahbaz Ahmed are there. They are all good. Badoni’s form is very good, Abdul Samad hits decent sixes, but the experience is not seen in the lower-middle order,” he observed.

Citing Sherfane Rutherford, Tristan Stubbs and Tim David as examples, Aakash Chopra highlighted that IPL teams generally have at least one strong overseas lower-middle-order striker. He noted that the absence of any such player might come back to bite LSG.

“The shadow of injuries is inseparable from this team” – Aakash Chopra on LSG’s other challenges heading into IPL 2026

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that the presence of injury-prone seamers could be another challenge for the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026.

“There is a huge injury concern among Indian fast bowlers. Mohammad Shami has come and will hopefully remain fit. Mayank Yadav is injury-prone. Then Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan. Even Anrich Nortje has come back after an injury. The shadow of injuries is inseparable from this team,” he said.

While pointing out that Wanindu Hasaranga‘s potential absence could be a challenge in the spin-bowling department, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that opposition batters might read Digvesh Rathi better in IPL 2026.

“They let Ravi Bishnoi go and picked Wanindu Hasaranga in his place. If he is also not there, there could be a challenge in spin. Digvesh Rathi was brilliant, but now, as he plays more, people will start understanding him. So he will have to reinvent himself,” Chopra observed.

Wanindu Hasaranga, who was bought by the Lucknow Super Giants for ₹2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction, suffered a hamstring injury during the T20 World Cup 2026. Digvesh Rathi (14 scalps at an economy rate of 8.25 in 13 innings) was LSG’s highest wicket-taker in IPL 2025.