In the second Test in Rawalpindi on Saturday, Pakistan scored 274 runs, while Bangladesh’s bowlers effectively limited the home team to a modest total. Rain washed out the first day of play.
Bangladesh ended the day without losing a wicket.
Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz was pivotal for Bangladesh, bringing them back into the match after Pakistan had dominated the first session. Miraz took five wickets, dismissing Shan Masood for 57 and opener Saim Ayub for 58, as Pakistan was well-positioned at 99-1 at lunch.
In the second session, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan took a crucial wicket, trapping Babar Azam for 31 with a low delivery. Zakir Hasan also made an important play, though he dropped a sharp catch off Agha Salman shortly after.
Mohammad Rizwan was unbeaten on 18 at the end of the day’s play, with Salman yet to score. Pakistan needs a win to level the series after losing the first Test by 10 wickets. Bangladesh’s victory in the first Test was their first ever against Pakistan in 14 attempts.
Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed removed Saud Shakeel, the first Test centurion, for 16. Shakeel had already survived a dropped catch by Mehidy off Nahid Rana.
Pakistan’s first-day play was interrupted by rain, but they performed well in the first session after being put in to bat by Bangladesh. Masood, who had struggled in the first Test, hit two boundaries before being dismissed by Mehidy for 57. Ayub was more aggressive, scoring two sixes and four boundaries before being stumped by Liton Das off Mehidy.
Taskin, replacing the injured Shoriful Islam, dismissed Abdullah Shafique with the sixth ball of the match. Pakistan made two changes from the first Test, resting Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah in favor of Mir Hamza and Abrar Ahmed.
The series is part of the World Test Championship’s third cycle. Bangladesh, seeking their first Test series win over Pakistan, made one change, bringing in Taskin Ahmed for the injured Shoriful Islam. Pakistan, after a disappointing final day in the first Test, now faces a must-win situation in the second Test.
Jason Gillespie, Pakistan’s red-ball coach, emphasized the need for a more disciplined and aggressive approach from the bowlers in the final Test. He criticized their poor over rates in the first Test and stressed the importance of consistent line and length, aiming to challenge the opposition’s defense repeatedly.
