Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com
Bangladesh has carved out a remarkable achievement in cricket, securing 2-0 Test series win against Pakistan on their own soil. Tigers completed 2-0 clean sweep over Pakistan with a six-wicket win in the second and final Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.
This is the first time the Tigers have defeated Pakistan in a Test series and their third-ever Test series win away from home. They had earlier won against a second-string West Indies in 2009 and a one-off series against Zimbabwe in 2021.
This is also only the second time a team has completed a clean sweep over Pakistan in Pakistan in a Test series. The only other team to do so were England, who won 3-0 against the hosts in 2022.
Bangladesh’s openers, Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam, laid a solid foundation in their chase of 185 runs, putting together a 58-run partnership. Zakir was the standout, scoring a quickfire 40 runs, while Shadman contributed 24 before falling to Khurram Shehzad.
The early exchanges were marked by cautious yet confident batting, with both openers successfully navigating Pakistan’s pace attack. Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh’s captain, and Mominul Haque then took the reins, steadily advancing the score. Najmul added 38 runs, and Mominul 34, before Mominul’s dismissal with the team at 153.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan then completed the chase with little fuss. Mushfiqur survived two consecutive reviews by Pakistan, with the DRS confirming his safety on both occasions. Shakib, who joined Mushfiqur after Mominul’s departure, ensured there were no further hiccups, and Bangladesh crossed the finish line with 162 for 4, needing just 23 more runs at that stage.
The victory was sealed on the fifth day of the Test, a day that began with predictions of rain and thunderstorms. However, the skies eventually cleared, allowing play to proceed without interruption. By lunch, Bangladesh had reached 122 for 2, requiring just 63 more runs to secure the series. The final session of the day saw Bangladesh comfortably reach their target, despite a few moments of concern.
This series win is a milestone for Bangladesh, not only because of the victories themselves but also because of the manner in which they were achieved. The team’s batting average in second innings since January 2023 has been the highest among all Test-playing nations, and this series showcased that strength. With this historic triumph, Bangladesh has firmly established itself as a formidable force in Test cricket, capable of winning in challenging conditions away from home.
