Rain looms large over Ban-Pak series

Bangladesh women's team will play the first of the three-match T20I series against Pakistan today at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, but rain threat looms large on the series.

The Tigresses have been undergoing a training camp in Chattogram for over a week, but the last few days of rainfall has hindered both the teams' training sessions. Pakistan's practice game against BCB XI on October 23 was also abandoned due to rain. The trophy unveiling and press conference had to be moved to a hotel yesterday due to showers as well.

"Weather is not under our control. We will go to the field with the same kind of preparations that we go through all the time. If everything is fine, the match will go ahead. The wicket looks good and we always want sporting wickets where both teams get an advantage," Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana Joty said at the press conference yesterday.

Bangladesh's recent ODI record against Pakistan has been promising as they won four of the five recent ODIs. However, T20Is have seen a reversal of fortunes where Bangladesh beat Pakistan once in the last five matches.

Joty remained hopeful that their preparations will come good if the weather permits the matches to take place.

"In the last few years, whenever we have played Pakistan, either T20I or ODIs, we have been ahead. We have arrived here early to prepare and get an idea of the wickets. So if we can play better cricket on the day, something good will happen," Joty said.

Spinners may likely find purchase in the series and Pakistan captain Nida Dar said: "Definitely Bangladesh are a very good side and got good spinners along with senior players who are always performing. We know our strength and their strength so hopefully the matches go well."

The second and third T20I are slated to be played at the same venue on October 27 and 29 respectively.