DHAKA, June 7: Pakistan must overcome the absence of troubled pacemen Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar when they aim to extend their 11-match winning streak in limited-overs cricket against hosts Bangladesh on Sunday.

The teams will clash in the opening match of a three-nation one-day series also involving India.

“We have won 11 games in a row, and we want to continue that,” Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik told reporters here on Saturday.

“We are looking forward to a good series. Everyone is fit and in good form.”

Malik added that the absence of Asif, who was dropped from the squad after being arrested in Dubai for allegedly carrying an illegal substance, and Shoaib Akhtar, who is serving a five-year international ban for repeated disciplinary breaches, could be overcome.

“We still have a decent bowling attack in Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Sohail Khan and Rao Iftikhar,” Malik said.

Led by Malik and coach Geoff Lawson, a 16-member Pakistan squad arrived Friday in Dhaka.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, meanwhile, said his side is aiming for improvement against its neighbours. They have won only one match each against Pakistan and India in the past nine years.

“We want to be competitive and show improvement in this series,” Ashraful said.

The first match will be a day-night contest at Mirpur’s Shere Bangla National Stadium on the outskirts of Dhaka.

Pakistan will meet arch-rivals India on Tuesday, while Bangladesh face the latter on Thursday. The final is scheduled for June 14.

“India recently won a series against Australia in Australia, so their confidence is high. But we also have to take Bangladesh seriously as they are playing in their home conditions,” stated Malik.

Teams (from):

BANGLADESH: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Alok Kapali, Abdur Razzak, Farhad Reza, Shahriar Nafees, Mohammad Nazimuddin, Raqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Dolar Mahmud.

PAKISTAN: Shoaib Malik (captain), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam, Bazid Khan, Naumanullah Khan.

Umpires: Enamul Hoque Moni (Bangladesh) and Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka).

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand).—Agencies