Tag: PAK vs BAN

MIRPUR: Veteran batter and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim etched his name further into Bangladesh’s cricket history after achieving a major milestone during the opening Test against Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The experienced right-hander resumed Day Two unbeaten on 48 and soon brought up his 29th half-century in Test cricket with a single off Shaheen Shah Afridi.

In doing so, Rahim surpassed former opener Tamim Iqbal to register the most 50-plus scores for Bangladesh in the longest format.

Rahim now has 42 scores of 50 or more in Test cricket, including 13 centuries and 29 half-centuries. Tamim previously held the record with 41 fifty-plus scores, which included 10 centuries and 31 fifties.

Most 50+ scores for Bangladesh in Test cricket

• Mushfiqur Rahim – 42
• Tamim Iqbal – 41
• Mominul Haque – 39
• Shakib Al Hasan – 36
• Habibul Bashar – 27

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Rahim also remains Bangladesh’s leading run-scorer in Test cricket, with 6581 runs at an average of 38.94.

The veteran batter extended his innings to 71 off 179 deliveries before being cleaned up by Afridi, leaving Bangladesh at 380-8.

Pakistan tightened their grip immediately afterwards as Mohammad Abbas completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Ebadot Hossain for a duck in the following over.

However, Bangladesh’s innings did not end quietly as tailender Taskin Ahmed launched a brief counterattack.

Taskin smashed 28 runs from just 19 deliveries and stitched together a handy 29-run stand for the final wicket before Shaheen ended the resistance, bowling Bangladesh out for 413.

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MIRPUR: Debutant opener Azan Awais starred with an unbeaten half-century as Pakistan finished the second day of the opening Test against Bangladesh in a commanding position at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors ended the day on 179-1 in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 413, with Azan unbeaten on 85 alongside fellow debutant Abdullah Fazal, who will resume Day 3 on 37*.

After a disciplined bowling display earlier in the day led by Mohammad Abbas, Pakistan carried their momentum into the batting innings and dominated the final two sessions.

Azan and Imam-ul-Haq laid the foundation with a solid 106-run opening stand, frustrating Bangladesh’s bowlers on a surface that had offered assistance earlier in the match.

The young left-hander brought up his maiden Test fifty during an assured knock filled with patience and composure, while Imam contributed 45 before Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided Bangladesh with the breakthrough.

Following Imam’s dismissal, Azan found another reliable partner in Abdullah Fazal as the two debutants comfortably negotiated the final session. The pair added an unbeaten 73 runs for the second wicket, taking Pakistan safely to stumps.

Earlier, Pakistan bowled Bangladesh out for 413 shortly after Lunch. Shaheen Afridi struck immediately after the break to remove veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who made a gritty 71 from 179 deliveries.

In the following over, Abbas completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Ebadot Hossain for a duck, leaving Bangladesh nine down.

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However, Pakistan were forced to wait for the final breakthrough as Taskin Ahmed launched a counter-attacking cameo. The tailender smashed 28 runs off just 19 balls before Shaheen eventually dismissed him to bowl Bangladesh out for 413.

Abbas was the standout performer for Pakistan with figures of 5-92, while Shaheen Afridi claimed three wickets. Hasan Ali and Noman Ali chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Bangladesh had resumed the day on 301-4 with Mushfiqur Rahim (48*) and Litton Das (8*) at the crease after the hosts dominated the opening day. The pair initially looked comfortable before Abbas broke through by dismissing Litton for 33.

The experienced pacer then removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz (10) and Taijul Islam (17) to leave Bangladesh at 378-7 before the Lunch.

Despite the collapse around him, Mushfiqur held firm to guide the hosts to 380-7 at Lunch before Pakistan completed the job in the second session.

The first day had largely belonged to the hosts, who piled up 301-4 courtesy of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s impressive 101 off 130 balls.

Mominul Haque also played a major role in the dominance, narrowly missing out on a century after falling for 91.

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MIRPUR: Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas said the bowlers were ‘unlucky’ after a difficult opening day against Bangladesh in the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

Asked to bat first, Bangladesh closed out day one in a strong position at 301-4, largely due to a 170-run partnership between skipper Najmul Hosain Shanto and Mominul Haque.  Shanto scored 101 while Haque was dismissed on 91.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, and Noman Ali picked up one wicket each, as the visitors endured a frustrating day.

Speaking to the media after day one of the first Test, Abbas said they had worked hard and rejected the suggestion that it was a frustrating day.

“I don’t think so, it was a frustrating day,” he replied to reporters.

“We worked really hard and, at some points, we didn’t bowl well, but at other stages we bowled really well and were a little unlucky as well,” he added.

The pacer mentioned the day’s play, in which Pakistan bowlers created some chances, and acknowledged good batting from the opposition.

“There were plenty of play-and-miss moments throughout the day. I think it was a very good cricketing pitch and we have the new ball in our hands. We will come back tomorrow, take early wickets, and try to finish the job as soon as possible,” he explained.

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“There is grass on the pitch, but underneath it is very dry. We have played enough cricket to understand that we need to work really hard,” Abbas observed.

Regarding bowling discipline, he considered no-balls crucial, stressing that luck played a vital role.

“The weather is also very hot, but I still think it is a very good cricketing pitch.”

“It is not like there was frustration among the bowlers or spinners. If I talk about myself, I bowled two no-balls. That can happen when you are putting in extra effort. They were very close no-balls and, of course, they should not have happened,” Abbas stated.

The 36-year-old also backed skipper Shan Masood’s decision to bowl first, saying that any captain would have chosen to bowl on that pitch.

“The bowling was good overall, but there were a few no-balls. There were a lot of play-and-miss moments and, if luck had been on our side, the scenario could have been different.”

“I think any captain winning the toss on this pitch would have chosen to bowl first. The pitch is dry underneath, although there are green patches on it,” the seamer concluded.

READ: Najmul Hossain Shanto creates history during Pakistan Test

MIRPUR: Najmul Hossain Shanto scripted history on Friday by becoming the first Bangladesh captain to score five Test centuries. 

The left-handed batter surpassed Mushfiqur Rahim’s record during the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Shere-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

He reached the milestone with a boundary in the 52nd over of the innings. However, shortly after completing his century, he was dismissed for 101 off 130 balls, hitting two sixes and 12 fours. This was also Shanto’s ninth Test century in his 40th match.

Most centuries by Bangladesh Test captains:

Najmul Hossain Shanto – 5

Mushfiqur Rahim – 4

Mominul Haque: 3

Powered by Shanto’s century, Bangladesh finished the opening day at 301 for the loss of four wickets in 85 overs.

Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 48 with the aid of six boundaries while Litton Das held firm, scoring eight not out off 35 deliveries.

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Najmul Hossain Shanto was well supported by Mominal Haque, who fell short of a century. The left-hander was trapped lbw for 91 by Noman Ali in the dying hours of the day.

The pair arrived at the crease when their side was reduced to 31-2 in the morning session. Both batters shared a mammoth 170-run stand from 257 deliveries, which took the sting out of Pakistan’s three-pronged pace attack.

For Pakistan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Abbas picked up one wicket each, while Noman Ali also managed to scalp one.

READ: Ramiz Raja labels Shaheen Afridi as ‘medium pacer’

MIRPUR: Former Pakistan cricketer and renowned commentator Ramiz Raja called Shaheen Afridi a ‘medium pacer’ during the first day of the opening Test match against Bangladesh.

During commentary, Ramiz highlighted Shaheen’s pace and compared him to Bangladesh’s fast bowlers.

“We don’t have pacers like Nahid Rana; we have medium pacers. So far, Shaheen Afridi has looked like a medium pacer,” Raja said.

He also mentioned the struggles that modern-day fast bowlers face in the longer format due to playing too much T20 cricket.

Ramiz’s assessment came after Shaheen struggled for pace, bowling between 125 and 134 km/h during his spells. He eventually finished day one with one wicket to his name while conceding 67 in 19 overs at an economy of 3.52.

Bangladesh showcased a commanding display at the end of the opening day of the first Test. The home side racked up 301 for the loss of four wickets in 85 overs, with Mushfiqur Rahim remaining unbeaten on 48 with the aid of six boundaries. On the other hand, Litton Das held firm, scoring eight not out off 35 deliveries.

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The day largely belonged to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who hit a century. He made 101 off 130 balls, striking two sixes and 12 fours. He was well supported by Mominal Haque, who fell short of a century. The left-hander was trapped lbw for 91 by Noman Ali in the dying hours of the day.

The pair arrived at the crease when their side was reduced to 31-2 in the morning session. Both batters shared a mammoth 170-run stand from 257 deliveries, which took the sting out of Pakistan’s three-pronged pace attack.

For Pakistan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Abbas picked up one wicket each, while Noman Ali also managed to scalp one.

READ: Shaheen Afridi achieves major milestone in first Bangladesh Test

MIRPUR: Pakistan’s premier left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi reached a landmark achievement in Test cricket on Friday, becoming the first Pakistani bowler to complete 100 wickets in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

The milestone came during the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where Afridi struck early by dismissing opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy on the opening day.

With this breakthrough, Afridi also joined an elite list of bowlers in WTC history, becoming only the 19th overall to reach the 100-wicket mark in the competition since its inception.

Among Pakistan’s leading wicket-takers in the WTC, Afridi now stands at the top with 100 wickets, followed by Noman Ali (89), Sajid Khan (63), Naseem Shah (60), Abrar Ahmed (46), Yasir Shah (41), Hasan Ali (35), and Mohammad Abbas (34).

Most wickets for Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship

• Shaheen Afridi – 100*
• Noman Ali – 89
• Sajid Khan – 63
• Naseem Shah – 60
• Abrar Ahmed – 46
• Yasir Shah – 41
• Hasan Ali – 35
• Mohammad Abbas – 34

At the time of this writing, Bangladesh had reached 244-3 in 63 overs after recovering strongly from an early collapse. The hosts had earlier been reduced to 31-2 before rebuilding through a crucial partnership.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had earlier played a commanding knock of 101 off 130 balls, while Mominul Haque remained unbeaten on 80, holding the innings together after early setbacks.

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MIRPUR: Pakistan created a unique milestone in their red-ball history after fielding an unprecedented combination in the opening Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Playing their 468th Test match, Pakistan featured seven left-handed batters in the same playing XI for the first time ever, marking a rare moment in the team’s long-standing Test journey.

The historic line-up included uncapped batters Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal alongside experienced left-handers Imam-ul-Haq, captain Shan Masood and vice-captain Saud Shakeel. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and spinner Noman Ali further added to the unique combination.

Pakistan entered the opening Test with a relatively fresh-looking top order, handing opportunities to young players as part of their preparations for the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.

Meanwhile, star batter Babar Azam was not included in the playing XI after suffering a left knee injury ahead of the match.

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Pakistan skipper Shan Masood elected to field first, and the visitors made an encouraging start through Shaheen Shah Afridi, who removed opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for eight with just 18 runs on the board.

The pressure intensified shortly after when Hasan Ali struck in his very first over, dismissing Shadman Islam for 13 to leave Bangladesh struggling at 31-2 in the morning session.

However, the hosts responded positively through a composed rebuilding effort from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque.

The experienced pair absorbed the early pressure before gradually shifting momentum back in Bangladesh’s favour with a patient and unbeaten 70-run stand for the third wicket at the end of the first session.

Pakistan XI for first Bangladesh Test: Shan Masood (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal, Azan Awais, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan.

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MIRPUR: Star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has set his sights firmly on guiding Pakistan towards the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, stressing that consistency across a demanding Test calendar will be key to achieving that goal.

Speaking ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, the left-arm pacer stressed the importance of consistency, preparation, and adaptability in what he described as a long and challenging Test cycle.

“We are looking forward to the challenge of the Test series. Tests are very important for us, and this is a long Test season for us, perhaps for the first time like this. We are fully prepared and ready to give our best,” Afridi said.

Pakistan are set to play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, with the first Test scheduled at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from May 8 to 12, followed by the second in Sylhet from May 16 to 20.

Shaheen acknowledged that home conditions naturally provide an advantage to hosting teams, but emphasised that execution and preparation remain the real deciding factors in Test cricket.

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“We hope the conditions will be good for us and we will play excellent cricket. Every team is strong in its home conditions, but what matters most is how well you prepare and execute,” he added.

He also underlined Pakistan’s broader ambitions in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, making it clear that the team’s focus extends beyond individual series.

“We are not only focused on this Test series but also on the ICC World Test Championship. Our target is to reach the final, and for that we must play our best cricket consistently,” he stated.

Looking ahead to the upcoming series against Bangladesh, Afridi noted the challenge posed by spin-friendly conditions but insisted Pakistan are well prepared for all scenarios.

“Bangladesh have previously done well on spin-friendly tracks, and every team uses home advantage. We have prepared accordingly, both for spin conditions and for a green wicket, and we are ready for every challenge,” he said.

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DUBAI: Pakistan batters Babar Azam and Shan Masood were among the notable movers in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings released on Wednesday.

Among Pakistan’s batters, Saud Shakeel continues to lead the way, retaining ninth position with 734 rating points. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan also held his ground, remaining 21st with 664 points.

Babar climbed one place to 22nd with 656 points, while Pakistan captain Shan made a more notable jump, moving up two spots to 42nd with 576 points. In contrast, Salman Ali Agha slipped one position to 28th in the updated list.

Further down the rankings, Imam-ul-Haq held on to 51st place, while Abdullah Shafique dropped to 57th. Kamran Ghulam remained at 85th in the latest update.

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At the top of the batting rankings, Joe Root retained the number one position, followed by Harry Brook in second, while Australia’s Travis Head moved up to third.

In the bowling charts, Shaheen Shah Afridi is Pakistan’s highest-ranked pacer, placed 24th with 632 points. Both Mohammad Abbas and Sajid Khan dropped one spot each to 29th and 30th, respectively.

Hasan Ali registered a slight improvement, moving up to 43rd, while Abrar Ahmed slipped to 51st. Khurram Shahzad retained his 70th position, whereas Asif Afridi dropped to 96th.

India’s Jasprit Bumrah continues to lead the Test bowling rankings, with Pakistan spinner Noman Ali holding second place, while Australia’s Mitchell Starc slipped to third in the latest update.

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KARACHI: Pakistan Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has responded to criticism surrounding his appointment, saying he remains focused on his responsibilities despite external opinions ahead of the national side’s upcoming red-ball assignment.

Speaking to the media during a training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre on Wednesday, Sarfaraz said he was aware of the discussions around his transition into coaching but insisted it does not affect his mindset as he begins his tenure with the national team.

“Former cricketers and my ex-colleagues have their own opinions. I am very positive about making the most of this new opportunity,” Sarfaraz said.

He further expressed confidence in the team’s support staff, highlighting the collective effort being put in ahead of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.

“My team management, including Umar Gul, Asad Shafiq, Grant Luden and Abdul Saad, and I are very confident about coaching the team to success,” he added.

The series will begin on May 8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, with the second Test scheduled to take place at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from May 16 to 20.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed also addressed questions regarding Babar Azam’s form, praising the batter’s technical improvements and consistency across formats. Babar recently led Peshawar Zalmi to the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 and is expected to join the national squad after May 3.

“It is good to see Babar scoring runs and that too with a technical comeback. He is looking solid. Yes, he has scored runs in T20s but once he joins us, we will see his role here as well,” Sarfaraz said.

Several players, including skipper Shan Masood and Khurram Shahzad, are also expected to join the Test squad after completing their PSL commitments.

Pakistan currently sit fifth in the WTC standings with 12 points, having played only two matches in the current cycle against South Africa at home in 2025.

Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh Test series

Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Team management: Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Sarfaraz Ahmed (head coach), Asad Shafiq (batting coach), Umar Gul (bowling coach), Abdul Saad (fielding coach) Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Usman Hashmi (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Lt. Col. (r) Usman Anwari (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)

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