Bangladesh, who had started the second Test match against Pakistan at 26 for 6, made a tremendous comeback to put themselves in a position to defeat them on the last day of the match in Rawalpindi and win a historic first-ever series against them.
With a 10-wicket margin, Bangladesh have won the first Test. Pakistan’s first-inning total of 274 was surpassed by the visitors’ 262 thanks to Litton Das’s century (138) and his seventh-wicket partnership of 165 runs with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (78), defying Pakistan and Khurram Shahzad’s 6 for 90 effort.
It came after Bangladeshi pacers Hasan Mahmud (5 for 43) and Nahid Rana (4 for 44) bowled an amazing spell of fast on a green-top track that demolished Pakistan’s second innings, knocking the national side out for 172, leaving the visitors with a target of 185 to win.
Day four ended with Bangladesh reaching 43 for no loss at stumps, mostly because to an aggressive 33 not out off 23 balls from opener Zakir Hasan. When stumps were drawn, his partner Shadman Islam was on nine not out.
The dull performance by the home team infuriated former Pakistani batsman Ahmed Shahzad. In a video that Shahzad uploaded on X (previously Twitter), he was heard saying, “Bangladesh bowlers ne Pakistan ke ballebazon ko fir se tigni ka naach nachaya hai (Bangladesh bowlers have stunned Pakistan batsmen once again).”
“T20 shot selection is taking place. On the shots they are getting out on, the bat is so far away from the body. Even in Twenty20 and Ten cricket, coaches challenge you about such strokes.”
Allrounder Agha Salman was Pakistan’s top-scorer in the second innings, with a knock of 47, while the top-scorer in the match for Pakistan was opener Saim Ayub, who made 58 in the first innings. “Aap apni galtiyon se seekh hi nahi rahe hain (you are not learning from your mistakes).
You don’t have that charm anymore. Hum log galti kar rahe hain aapse ummeedein laga ke (we are making a mistake by attaching hopes to you) or the fans are doing that mistake because you are playing with their emotions in such a way,” Shahzad continued.
Bangladesh made history by defeating you in the first Test and now controlling the second. This is not an isolated incident. It is not an isolated incident when you lose to Ireland, Zimbabwe, or Afghanistan. You have brought it to this point; it is the reality of Pakistan.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shahzad continued, should also take equal responsibility for the team’s decline in performance and should give up its diversionary practices.
“I hold more than just the athletes accountable.
Due to some factors that were clearly in front of us, the PCB has equal blame for this (the collapse). We had some choices to make, so we said stuff on TV and tried to divert our attention like we always do, the former batsman said.
“Uske baad hum soch rahe the ke Bangladesh team aayegi, unko toh hum hara hi lenge (Then we were thinking we will be able to beat Bangladesh easily). And when we beat them, then the anger among people will cool down. So we will start the Pakistan Cup in the meantime.” “All this play of yours has backfired in your face.”
