Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first T20I in Lahore on Wednesday.

Captain Salman Agha hit a career-best 56 to guide Pakistan to 201-7 before pace bowler Hasan Ali took 5-30 dismissed the tourists for 164 in 19.2 overs at Gaddafi Stadium.

The win gives the home team a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

All-rounder Shadab Khan, who also struck a quick 48, then dismissed rival skipper Litton Das for a 30-ball 48 to break a fighting 63-run stand for the third wicket that lifted Bangladesh from 37-2.

Litton hit three sixes and a four and had steadied the innings with Towhid Hridoy who scored 17, but the later batsmen could not capitalise on the platform.

Hasan ended Jaker Ali’s knock of 36 off 21 balls, Tanzim Hasan for one and Shoriful Islam for five to cap a successful return to international cricket after a year-long injury layoff.

Earlier, Agha and Hasan Nawaz’s 22-ball 44 helped Pakistan pass 200 after the hosts won the toss and chose to bat.

The captain, whose previous T20 best of 51* came against New Zealand in March, added 48 for the third wicket with Mohammad Haris and 65 for the fourth with Nawaz.

Pakistan were struggling at 5-2 after the loss of openers Saim Ayub, for a duck, and Fakhar Zaman in the first two overs.

Shadab scored a 25-ball 48 to help Pakistan add 58 in the last five overs.

All six Bangladesh bowlers were among the wickets, with left-arm seamer Islam taking 2-32 in three overs.

The remaining two matches are on Friday and Sunday, also in Lahore.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: @TheRealPCB/X