Rawalpindi: Bangladesh achieved a historic victory by whitewashing Pakistan in their home Test series for the first time ever. The second and final Test match, played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, saw Bangladesh secure a 6-wicket win, clinching the series 2-0.
Pakistan’s performance in both batting and bowling was severely exposed, as they suffered a humiliating defeat against what was considered a weaker opponent. Bangladesh was set a target of 185 runs, which they successfully chased down before the tea break on the final day, losing only four wickets.
Bangladesh began the last day of the match at 42 without loss. Zakir Hasan was bowled out for 40 by Mir Hamza, and Shadman Islam was dismissed by Khurram Shahzad for 24. However, Bangladesh’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mominul Haque built a crucial 57-run partnership. Shanto was dismissed for 38, and Mominul for 34, but Mushfiqur Rahim (22*) and Shakib Al Hasan (21*) guided their team to a historic victory. Shakib sealed the win with a boundary off Abrar Ahmed’s delivery.
Liton Das, who scored a crucial 138 runs under pressure to save Bangladesh from a certain defeat, was named Player of the Match. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was awarded Player of the Series for his all-round performance, scoring 115 runs and taking 10 wickets.
Pakistan’s batting lineup failed to deliver in both innings of the match, with the team scoring 274 in the first innings and collapsing for just 172 in the second. Bangladesh capitalized on Pakistan’s weak performance, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed taking eight wickets between them in the first innings, and Hasan Mahmud and Naeem Hasan sharing nine wickets in the second.
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, continued his poor form, scoring only 31 in the first innings and 11 in the second, totaling just 64 runs in the series. The match briefly saw excitement when Pakistan’s fast bowlers reduced Bangladesh to 26-6 in their first innings, but Pakistan’s complacency allowed Bangladesh to stage a comeback.
Khurram Shahzad was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking six wickets, while Mir Hamza and Salman Agha took two wickets each.
This series marks Pakistan’s first Test series loss at home since 2021, and the team has now gone 10 Test matches without a win. Under the leadership of current captain Shan Masood, Pakistan has lost five consecutive Test matches, including three against Australia and two against Bangladesh.
