Even as protests, unrest and violence roil Bangladesh, the nation's cricket team scripted history in Rawalpindi on Sunday (August 25). Najmul Hossain Shanto's men thrashed Pakistan by 10 wickets to notch up the Bangla Tigers' first-ever Test win over Pakistan. (Highlights | More Cricket News)
Chasing a mere 30 runs for a win, Bangladesh romped home in 6.3 overs, with openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam undefeated at the crease.
This is only the third time in history that Pakistan have lost a Test match after declaring an innings. The hosts had declared in the first innings at 448 for six, only to see Bangladesh mount a towering 565 runs in reply and go on to dismantle their batting in the third essay.
Spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan, the latter being an ousted member of parliament in the government of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, together accounted for seven wickets after the seamers mopped up the top order to bowl Pakistan out for a paltry 146 runs on the fifth day. Zakir and Shadman then did the rest, and Bangladesh had their maiden win in 14 Test matches against Pakistan.
This is only Bangladesh's seventh away Test win and the first since their beating New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in January 2022.
The home team's wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan followed his career-best 171 not out to top-score with 51, but most of his teammates fell to rash shots, coupled with some attacking field placings by Bangladesh captain Shanto.
Mehidy returned figures of 4-21 and Shakib 3-44, while the three fast bowlers Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana scalped one wicket apiece.
While the bowlers were the heroes on the final day, it was Mushfiqur Rahim who laid the foundation earlier with a sublime 191, and was adjudged the Player of the Match for his game-changing knock.
The loss extended Pakistan's dismal run in red-ball cricket at home to five defeats and four draws since they last beat South Africa at Rawalpindi in 2021.
The second Test will also be played at Rawalpindi from next Friday, after it was moved from Karachi due to the construction work underway at the National Bank Stadium.
