AP, LAHORE, PakistanShoaib Malik on Friday made an impressive return to Twenty20 cricket with a half-century, carrying Pakistan to five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first clash of a three-match series. Malik, who scored 58 not out off 45 balls with five fours, was brought back after Pakistan last year lost six of seven completed Twenty20 internationals without him. Pakistan captain Babar Azam, the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 batsman, was out for his first career duck when he was caught behind off the second ball, but Malik carried the home team to 142-5 in 19.3 overs. “The wicket was surprising, and it was hard to play shots once the ball got older and softer,” Mahmudullah said. Young pacemen Shaheen Afridi (1-23) and debutant Haris Rauf (1-32) bowled well in the late overs and never allowed Bangladesh to accelerate.
