Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 5 wickets courtesy Shoaib Malik's unbeaten 58.

Returning veteran Shoaib Malik's unbeaten half century helped Pakistan chase down Bangladesh's 142-run target at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday.

The modest 142-run target could have troubled the hosts, had it not been for returning veteran Shoaib Malik's 58, which got the host over the line even if it took them until the final over.

The run chase

Pakistan's run chase had the worst possible start as captain and superstar batsman Babar Azam departed for nought.

Mohammad Hafeez, back playing for Pakistan for the first time since the World Cup last year, joined Ahsan Ali in the middle.

The veteran showed his class straightaway, effortlessly finding some boundaries that eased off some pressure. And as has been his hallmark throughout his career, he perished after so much promise. His 16-ball 17 was neither here nor there.

At the end of the 5th over, Pakistan were 35-2 and in need of a partnership. The partnership did come but courtesy the other returning veteran in the side, Shoaib Malik, and Ahsan.

Malik rotated the strike, something on which he has built his long career, as Pakistan reached 68-2 at the end of 10 overs, needing a mere 74 off the remaining 60 balls.

Their 46-run stand came to an end in the 12th over when Ahsan tried to smack when out of the park but skied up. He scored 36 off 32 on debut.

Malik and new man Iftikhar Ahmed did not let the loss of wicket affect the proceedings as the two happily rotated the strike and brought the score to 106-3 at the end of 15 overs.

Pakistan lost Iftikhar Ahmed and Imad Wasim in the final five overs but Malik stayed and did just enough to get his side a five-wicket win with three balls to spare.

With boundaries proving hard to come by, the Tigers took more risk than usual and lost Liton Das (12), also to a run-out. Shadab Khan had Naim (43 off 41) caught at long-on the very next ball as Bangladesh were pegged back significantly.

With just five overs left, Bangladesh had a mere 100 on board with seven wickets left.

Haris...