Bangladesh A Archives

Omair Bin Yousuf helps Pakistan Shaheens set huge target for Bangladesh A

DARWIN: Omair Bin Yousuf struck an unbeaten century after Khurram Shahzad’s six-wicket haul to keep Pakistan Shaheens in command against Bangladesh A on day three in the first four-day match at the DXC Arena.

Pakistan Shaheens set Bangladesh A a mammoth target of 428 runs, in response they scored 20-0 in seven overs to close the day. Bangladesh A now require 408 runs to win the match on the last day tomorrow.

Earlier on day three, Bangladesh A resumed their innings from the overnight score of 203-4 before succumbing to 266 all out in 76.2 overs as Shaheens took no time in wrapping up their innings.

Shahadat Hossain was stranded for 36 not out while none of the batters apart from Rejaur Rehman Raja (32) offered any resistance as their team added only 63 runs for six wickets leaving a deficit of 201 runs.

Khurram Shahzad was the chief destroyer as he dismissed five batters in the first session claiming figures of 6-72 in 21.2 overs, his sixth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Mohammad Ali finished with 2-64 in 22 overs, while also holding up one end on the morning of day three. Shahnawaz Dahani had one scalp to his name.

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With a lead of 201 runs, Pakistan Shaheens began their second innings copping two early blows. Haseebullah departed for a six-ball duck while Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for eight, leaving Shaheens 20-2 in 5.1 overs.

Omair Bin Yousuf and Mubasir Khan, promoted up the order, put on a mammoth 177-run third-wicket partnership to help Pakistan extend the lead over 400-mark.

Mubasir missed out on his fourth first-class century as he got out after scoring a gutsy 95 from 134 balls with the help of eight boundaries and one six.

Meanwhile, Omair, playing his 50th first-class game, registered his 11th ton in the format. The declaration call came right after he reached his ton, with Shaheen’s scorecard reading 226-3 in 47.2 overs, setting Bangladesh 428 runs to win.

Omair Bin Yousuf remained unbeaten at 100 from 123 balls, which featured six boundaries and two sixes.

Bangladesh bowlers toiled throughout the innings as Ripon Mondol, Rejaur Rehman and Mukidul Islam picked up one wicket each.

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Huraira’s double ton keeps Pakistan Shaheen on top against Bangladesh A

Bangladesh A put up a fighting display with the bat but Pakistan Shaheens remained in a dominant position, leading by 264 runs when the stumps were drawn on day two of the first four-day match at the DXC Arena in Darwin.

Shadman Islam (88, 167b, 15x4s) and Aich Mollah (70, 113b, 11x4s) resisted with a 153-run third-wicket partnership after Pakistan Shaheens had reduced Bangladesh A to 23-2 in 12.1 overs.

Mohammad Ali dismissed Parvez Hossain Emon for a paltry three while Khurram Shahzad got rid of Amite Hasan for eight.

Shadman and Mollah batted for around 38 overs before the latter was run out by Sahibzada Farhan.

Two overs later Shahnawaz Dahani dismissed Shadman caught by Umar Amin. Ariful Islam retired hurt as he left the ground at the end of the 59th over.

Shahadat Hossain (15 not out, 32b, 2x4s) and Hasan Murad, yet to open his account, will resume the batting for Bangladesh A on day three.

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For Pakistan Shaheens, Khurram, Ali and Dahani picked up one wicket each while Mubasir and Mehran remained wicketless.

Earlier, Pakistan added 92 runs in 17.1 overs to their overnight score of 375-2 before declaring the innings at 467-3 after facing 96.1 overs. Mohammad Huraira (218, 247b, 26x4s, 1×6) added 57 more runs to his unbeaten overnight total of 161 while also bringing up the second double ton of his first-class career.

Hasan struck to remove Huraira in the 94th over, ending 204-run third-wicket partnership, as Omair Bin Yousuf (6 not out, 13b, 1×4) joined Kamran Ghulam (100 not out, 161b, 13x4s) in the middle. The declaration call came right after Kamran brought up his 17th first-class century.

Ripon Mondal, who picked up two wickets, and Hasan, who plucked one, were the only successful bowlers for Bangladesh A among the six players who bowled.

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Pakistan Shaheens captain upbeat for Bangladesh A challenge in Darwin

Pakistan Shaheens under the leadership of Sahibzada Farhan will take on Bangladesh ‘A’ in the first of the two four-day matches in Darwin, Australia on 19 July.

The second four-day match will commence next Friday, 26 July, which will be followed by two One-Day matches on 4 and 6 August, and then the nine-team Top End T20 series from 9-18 August.

This is the first time since 2008 that the two development sides of Pakistan and Bangladesh will play against each other. Sixteen years ago, the Pakistan Academy side toured Bangladesh and won both matches by eight wickets against Bangladesh Academy.

Pakistan Shaheens arrived in Darwin on 15 July after undergoing a six-day intensive training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi under the supervision of Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie.

This will be Pakistan Shaheen’s third red-ball series in as many years, having toured Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe for two four-day matches each in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

On the last red-ball tour to Zimbabwe, Mehran Mumtaz was the standout bowler with 15 wickets, while Omair bin Yousuf racked up 348 runs.

Among the current squad, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Omair bin Yousuf and Shahnawaz Dahani have previously represented the Shaheens in red-ball cricket, while Ali, Khurram and Umar have also featured in Test matches for Pakistan.

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The two four-day matches against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin will be pivotal for the players as these will provide the much-needed experience and exposure ahead of a busy red-ball season, which includes Tests against Bangladesh, England, South Africa and West Indies from August 2024 to January 2025.

Pakistan Shaheens’ captain Sahibzada Farhan acknowledged that Bangladesh A is a strong side that will challenge his team, however, he expressed confidence in his side’s preparations.

“I’m delighted to be leading the Pakistan Shaheens side in the series and I look forward to an exciting challenge that the Bangladesh ‘A’ team poses in what will be new playing conditions for us,” said Farhan.

“The team has prepared very well in the Karachi camp and the training sessions in Darwin have been helpful in acclimatising to the conditions.

“The presence of Jason Gillespie is a huge boost for the talented bunch of players and we are eager to prove our mettle in both the four-day matches.”

Pakistan Shaheens squad: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir and Umar Amin.

Bangladesh ‘A’ squad: Mahmudul Hasan Joy (c), Aich Mollah, Amite Hasan, Ariful Islam, Hasan Murad, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Maruf Mridha, Md Mukidul Islam, Parvez Hossain Emon, Rakibul Hasan, Rezaur Rehman Raja, Ripon Mondal, Sahadat Hossain Dipu, Shadaman Islam and Sk Pervez Rahman Jobon

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