With Sri Lanka sealing their place in the final, Pakistan will look to join them with a victory over beleaguered hosts Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2014.
[Read the report HERE]
Pakistan have enjoyed two victories - against Afghanistan and India - and one loss - to Sri Lanka - and if Misbah-ul-Haq's men can make it three wins out of four, they will be assured of a berth in the final.
Theoretically Bangladesh, India and Afghanistan still stand a chance of qualifying for the final, with bonus points on offer. Bangladesh will go through if they win their final two matches, with a bonus point or two in tow, including against Pakistan, and India fail to pick up a bonus point victory against Afghanistan, due to a better head-to-head record against Pakistan - the criteria to decide a tie between two teams.
If there is a three-way tie, then the finalist will be decided on nett run rate.
Pakistan, of course, can knock off all those permutations and combinations by simply beating a Bangladesh side reeling from an embarrassing loss to Afghanistan last Saturday.
"I am not sure what the situation is but if we reach the final it will be good for us to be in the successive finals," Pakistan captain Misbah said after his side's epic victory over India. "We will try to play well in our next game and go for the title.
"They are a good side in their own conditions. We are not relaxed, we will do our basics right and try to win that game."
Bangladesh, playing at home, are under tremendous pressure to turn their fortunes around and show some fight, following the disappointing loss to Afghanistan, which skipper Mushfiqur Rahim termed shameful.
"This is a shameful loss," Mushfiqur said. "For a split second I thought we wouldn't lose this game, being honest with you. I thought that someone or the other would stand up and bail us out. But in the end we were not good enough.
"We have to replace those players who, after being motivated, do not understand. It is not my or someone else's team. It is a matter of the nation. I think it is time to replace those who cannot perform. If they don't feel bad after losing to Afghanistan or Sri Lanka, they should not play cricket.
"After seeing some of their cricket, I think some of us can't feel what is going on. The team management and selectors will probably think about changes."
Asia Cup 2014: Bangladesh vs Pakistan Live TV information (Match starts 2 pm local time, 1.30 pm IST, 8 am GMT, 3 am ET)
| Country | TV Broadcaster |
| India | Star Sports 1,Star Sports 3 and
Star Sports HD1 |
| US | Willow Cricket |
| Canada | CBN andATN Cricket Plus |
| United Kingdom | Star Life OK |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports |
| Bangladesh | Channel 9 andStar Life OK |
| Sri Lanka | MTV Sports |
Asia Cup 2014: Bangladesh vs Pakistan Live Streaming information (Match starts 2 pm local time, 1.30 pm IST, 8 am GMT, 3 am ET)
| Country | Online links |
| India | HERE |
| US | HERE |
| UK | HERE |
| Pakistan | HERE &HERE |
| Sri Lanka | HERE |
| Australia | HERE |
| South Africa | HERE |
Team news: Bangladesh: Shakib Al-Hasan's return from a three-match ban will be a huge boost for the home side, who have missed the all-rounder's experience and talent. It remains to be seen which players are given the axe after that underwhelming loss.
Pakistan: Mohammad Talha, who made an impressive debut against India, has been declared fit to play, so no changes seem to be afoot for the encounter. Shahid Afridi's form with the bat will be a huge plus for Pakistan, but openers Ahmed Shehzad and Sharjeel Khan will be under a little pressure to give their side a better start.
Expected lineups: Bangladesh: Anamul Haque, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Mahmudullah, Arafat Sunny, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain.
Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan.
