Pakistan go down to Bangladesh Board XI

Less than a month since ruffling the feathers of eventual World Cup champions Australia, Pakistan have slumped to a one-wicket defeat at the hands of a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI.

Pakistan played just four of the XI that took on Australia in the Cup quarter-final in their their first tour match, with allrounder Mohammad Hafeez the notable inclusion.

The former captain led the way for Pakistan with the bat, crashing four sixes en route to a 79-ball 85 as the Azhar Ali-skippered side finished on 9-268 off their 50 overs.

Despite the top five batsmen getting a start, the middle and lower order crumbled badly with Saeed Ajmal, batting at number 10, the only player in the bottom six to reach double figures.

A three-nil defeat at the hands of Bangladesh would see Pakistan slip below the Tigers into eighth position on the ICC one-day international rankings.

Even with the added pressure, Hafeez asserted that his side wasn’t worried ahead of the three-match ODI series in Dhaka.

"It is only a warm-up game," the 34-year-old said after the defeat.

"We tried a couple of things but were not 100 per cent into it.

“I could easily have scored a century or more than that, the way I was playing at the time.

“We wanted to give chances to the youngsters so that they can get used to the conditions.

“In bowling too we tried couple of things. This is where we got a fair chance so we can fix some of the areas for the coming series.”

Hafeez didn’t bowl in the match, with the legality of his newly-remodelled action yet to be confirmed by the ICC.

Pakistan’s attack will no doubt welcome any extra assistance Hafeez can offer, having struggled for breakthroughs on a slow wicket in Fatullah.

Returning quick Junaid Khan was the pick of the bowlers with 4-38, while World Cup hero Wahab Riaz finished with 1-40 off nine overs.

For Bangladesh, Sabbir Rahman was the standout; his 123 runs off 99 deliveries all but sealing victory for the home side.

"I think we dropped couple of catches," Hafeez said. "Sabbir got a few chances, but this is how it goes. We have to improve and take those chances in crucial times. When you take that, you always win the game.

“We really wanted a game like this to fix the areas we wanted to. The team hopefully will be better now.

"To be honest both teams played a good game.”