Column | A shot in the arm for Bangla Tigers

A victory in an away series in Test cricket is considered to be the biggest challenge in this version of the game. This is because the touring side has to take on and vanquish a team that is playing in conditions known and familiar to them and on pitches tailor-made to suit their bowlers. After making their bow in Test cricket in 1932, India could register a series win abroad only in 1968, when they humbled New Zealand, who were battling with us for the wooden spoon in this league at that point of time. It took another three years before we could manage to break into the big league, defeating the West Indies and England in back-to-back series, during the tours in 1971.

Bangladesh became the 10th Test playing country in November, 2000, when they played their first match against India at Dhaka. Their first win in a Test was against Zimbabwe at Chittagong in 2005. They won their first Test series in 2009, when they beat hosts West Indies 2-0 in a two-match series. Their next overseas series win came after 12 years, against  a lowly Zimbabwe in 2021. But their 2-0 win in the recently-concluded two-Test series against Pakistan has shown that Bangladesh possesses the required calibre and competence to be regarded as one of the top nations currently playing cricket spread over five days. This was evident from the manner in which they not only overcame some tough situations in both games, but also turned the tables on their opponents to chalk out facile wins.

In the first Test, Pakistan appeared to have reached an unassailable position when they scored 448 runs, losing six wickets in the process, and declared their first innings closed in the last session of play on the second day. They had recovered well after a wobbly start that saw them lose three early wickets for a mere 16 runs on a dry wicket, where they were put in to bat by Bangladesh. But Bangladesh batted for close to two days to pile up a total of 565, helped by a superb knock of 191 by Mushfiqur Rahim who held the innings together. Even as most observers predicted that the match would peter to a dull draw, the visitors struck strongly and bundled out the hosts for a paltry 146 in their second innings. They achieved the target of 30 without losing a wicket to go 1-0 up.

One expected Pakistan to come back strongly after this setback. They gave all signs of doing so when they had Bangladesh  on the mat with the scoreboard reading 26/6, in reply to their first innings total of 274. However, at this juncture wicketkeeper Litton Das and all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz came to the rescue of their side with a partnership of 165 to pull them out of the woods. Das played a brilliant innings of 148 which took his side’s total to within 12 runs of the first innings score of Pakistan. The Bangladesh bowlers dismissed the hosts for 172 in the second innings. The target of 185 was not an easy one on a last day pitch at Rawalpindi, but the Bangladesh batsmen displayed a calm approach and sense of purpose to win by six wickets. 

Though it was an exemplary performance by all the members of the playing eleven that led to this victory, contributions of some players were bigger than that of others. In the first Test, veteran Mushfiqur Rahim brought all his experience to play when he ground out the Pakistani attack to come a mere nine runs short of a well- deserved double century. Coming in at the fall of the third wicket, with the scoreboard showing only 147 runs against his side’s score, Rahim spent eight hours and 42 minutes at the wicket and faced 341 balls, in the process helping his side to edge past the first innings total posted by Pakistan. In present times, when focus is on quick scoring and strike rate has taken precedence over batting average, only a batsman trained in old school virtues of patience and defence could build such a monumental innings. He was involved in two three-figure partnerships - 114 with Das (56) and 196 with Mehidy Hasan (77) - as he guided his side to a lead in the first innings. 

Das held the Bangladesh innings together in the second Test after they were in dire straits at 26/6. He wisely decided to play his natural game, which involved not allowing the bowlers to gain the upper hand and never letting go of an opportunity to score runs. Both Das and Mehidy Hasan, who shared a partnership of 165 runs in 40 overs, kept the scoreboard ticking with crisp shots and smart running between the wickets. They did not give the impression that they were playing for a side that had their back to the wall but instead batted with the poise and confidence of veterans who knew what they were doing. This self assurance stands as a testament to the strides that Bangladesh has made as a Test side during the recent years.

Mention should also be made about the contributions of Mehidy Hasan, who was chosen for the player-of-the series award. In the first Test he made 77 with the bat and ran through the Pakistani tail in the second innings to pick up 4.21. In the second match, he returned figures of 5/61 runs when Pakistan batted first and followed up with a knock of 78. It can be seen that his contributions with bat and ball were critical elements in Bangladesh establishing supremacy over their hosts.

Bangladesh used to be considered as a side that depended on their spin bowlers to dismiss the opposition. Hence it was a surprise to see their fast bowlers seize the initiative and bowl out Pakistan in the second innings of the second Test. Their fast bowling trio of Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana took all the 10 Pakistani wickets in this innings and set up their side on the road to victory. Even in the first Test where the spinners held centerstage, Rana had impressed not only with his express pace but also the manner in which he plotted the dismissal of Babar Azam. Noting that Babar’s footwork was sluggish, Rana peppered him with bouncers at pace exceeding 145 kms per hour and followed up with a widish delivery outside the off stump.  Sensing an opportunity to break free, Babar attempted an ambitious drive, but only succeeded in chopping the delivery on to his stumps. 

A look at the scoreboard might give the impression that veteran Shakib Al Hasan contributed little during this series. But his role was underlined by the statement of skipper Najmul Hossain Shinto who said that the whole side wanted Shakib to be at the crease when the winning runs were scored in the second Test. Shakib also chipped in with crucial wickets in the second innings of the first Test.

A word about Pakistan. This side has been going through a horrible period, losing matches with regularity in all formats of the game. They have now played 10 Tests at home without a win against their name. The loss to Bangladesh is the second time they have been blanked in home series in as many years. Further, Shaun Masood now holds the dubious record of losing his first five Tests as captain. They were in fairly comfortable positions in both the tests against Bangladesh but managed to  lose the initiative thanks to spineless batting in the second innings.  That this follows the disastrous outing in the International Cricket Council T20 World Cup where they lost even to minnows USA shows the depths to which the team has plummeted in recent times. As captain Masood said, it is high time Pakistan Cricket Board went deep and tried to understand the malaise that affects the game in the country so as to come up with long term solutions, rather than attempt superficial changes.   

Bangladesh will travel to India next, in mid-September, for a two-Test series, with the matches being played at Chennai and Kanpur, besides three T20 Internationals. Though it is difficult to envisage Bangladesh getting better of a full strength Indian side playing in home conditions, it will be a mistake to take them lightly. For one, they will be buoyed by this win over Pakistan and have a well balanced team. Further, their batting runs deep, which is very important while playing in India, where the ability of the lower middle order and the tail to chip in often proves to be crucial. We had seen this during the series against Australia and England where the home side depended on the batting skills of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel on many occasions. If Bangladesh lower order is able to reproduce the form they showed in Pakistan, then Rohit Sharma and his boys will have a fight on their hands.

Congratulations to Bangladesh on their maiden Test series triumph against Pakistan. Best wishes to the Tigers as they embark on the tour of India, which promises to be more challenging.

(The author is a former international cricket umpire and a retired bureaucrat)