Bangladesh Secures Historic First Test Victory Over Pakistan

News Desk 

Rawalpindi: Bangladesh made history on Sunday by outplaying Pakistan in the first Test at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi, securing a resounding 10-wicket victory.

This marked Bangladesh’s first win in 14 matches against Pakistan, and their 20th overall in 143 Tests.

Pakistan, trailing by 117 runs in the first innings, began the final day’s proceedings needing another 94 runs to erase the deficit. However, they crumbled to 108 for six at lunch and were bowled out for 146, just 93 minutes into the second session.

Bangladesh chased down the 30-run target without losing a wicket, exorcising the memory of their one-wicket loss at Multan Cricket Stadium 21 years ago when Inzamam-ul-Haq’s brilliant 138 not out had snatched victory away from them.

Pakistan’s previous 12 Test wins over Bangladesh include six by an innings, four by seven wickets or more, and one by a margin of 328 runs.

Pakistan had declared their first innings at 448 for six, their second-highest first innings total in a losing cause where they declared. Their highest remains 574 for eight declared against Australia in Melbourne in 1972, before losing that match by 92 runs.

Bangladesh replied to Pakistan’s 448 for six declared with a mammoth 565, securing a 117-run first-innings lead. Mushfiqur Rahim’s gallant 191, which earned him the Player of the Match award, along with half-centuries from Shadman Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, and Mominul Haque, were the cornerstones of Bangladesh’s innings.

Sunday’s 10-wicket defeat also extended Pakistan’s winless streak at home to nine Tests. Their last victory was against South Africa in Rawalpindi in February 2021. Since then, Pakistan has drawn two Tests and lost one to Australia, lost all three Tests against England, and drawn both Tests against New Zealand.

The architects of Bangladesh’s victory were the spin duo of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan, who shared seven wickets between them. The pace trio of Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, and Nahid Rana picked up one wicket each. Mehidy finished with impressive figures of 11.5-2-21-4, while Shakib returned figures of 17-3-44-3.

Mehidy dismissed Mohammad Rizwan (51), Salman Ali Agha (0), Shaheen Shah Afridi (2), and Mohammad Ali (0). Shakib took the scalps of Abdullah Shafique (37), Saud Shakeel (0), and Naseem Shah (3).

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/pakistan-vs-bangladesh-first-test-kicks-off-in-rawalpindi/

Bangladesh’s fast bowlers had earlier put Pakistan on the back foot, with Shoriful Islam dismissing Saim Ayub (1) last evening. Hasan Mahmud then found the outside edge of Shan Masood’s bat (14), confirmed by technology. Babar Azam, who walked out at 28 for two, was dropped on his first ball but was eventually bowled by Nahid Rana after scoring 22 off 50 balls.

Babar’s dismissal at 66 triggered a collapse, as Pakistan lost wickets in quick succession, slipping to 118 for eight shortly after lunch. Saud Shakeel was stumped attempting a walking shot, Abdullah Shafique was caught at backward point trying to clear the boundary, Salman Ali Agha was caught for a golden duck, Shaheen Shah Afridi was trapped in front, and Naseem Shah’s ambitious drive resulted in a simple catch at mid-wicket.

Mohammad Rizwan followed up his first-innings 171 not out with a fighting 51, but when his team needed him to take the match deep, he missed the line of a straight delivery, inside-edging it onto his stumps. His 80-ball innings included six fours. The innings ended when Mohammad Ali was trapped by Mehidy in front of the stumps.

This victory was Bangladesh’s second win outside their home in the ICC World Test Championship (the first being against New Zealand at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui). The 10-wicket defeat has severely dented Pakistan’s hopes of featuring in the ICC World Test Championship final in July 2025, though they still have eight Tests (six at home) remaining.

The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will begin on August 30, followed by three Tests against England in October. Pakistan will then travel to South Africa for two Tests in December and January before hosting West Indies for two Tests in January.

Scores in brief (Day 5 of 5):

Pakistan 448-6d (Mohammad Rizwan 171 not out, Saud Shakeel 141, Saim Ayub 56, Shaheen Shah Afridi 29 not out; Hasan Mahmud 2-70, Shoriful Islam 2-77) and 146 all-out (Mohammad Rizwan 51, Abdullah Shafique 37, Babar Azam 22; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-21, Shakib Al Hasan 3-44).

Bangladesh 565 all-out, 167.3 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 191, Shadman Islam 93, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 77, Litton Das 56, Mominul Haque 50; Naseem Shah 3-93, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-88, Mohammad Ali 2-88, Khurram Shahzad 2-90) and 30-0.