DHAKA: Sajid Khan bagged his career-best 12-128 as Pakistan completed clean sweep against Bangladesh after sealing the second Test against them by an innings and eight runs here at Shere Bangla Stadium.
Taking the field on Day 5 with Bangladesh at 76-7, Pakistani bowlers dominated throughout. Sajid bagged two more wickets on the last day to complete his best figures (8-42) in a Test inning.
Bangladeshi batters could only add 11 runs to their first innings total on the last day. The hosts were enforced a follow-on.
Coming out to bat again, the Bangladeshi top-order failed yet another time, losing four wickets for just 25 runs. This time Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali did the job, bagging two wickets each to reduce Bangladesh to 25-4.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das carried their way out for Bangladesh and scored well-fought 73 together. But, it was Sajid who bagged Das to provide a much-needed breakthrough to Pakistan. Das scored 45 before his departure.
Mushfiq then partnered with Shakib Al Hasan to score 49 but he remained unlucky to get run out. He made 48 with the help of three boundaries.
Shakib (63) was fighting hard but Sajid was on top of him during the day’s twilight phase. The wicket was priceless as it took Pakistan closer to sealing the Test series 2-0.
Sajid took two more wickets to register his four wickets in the innings, and overall 12 wickets in the Test. Meanwhile, Babar Azam also took his maiden Test wicket. Shaheen and Hasan managed two wickets each.
DHAKA: Pakistani skipper Babar Azam bowled his first over in international cricket and gained massive attention on the internet.
Babar, leading Pakistan in the Test series against Bangladesh, came out to bowl 26th over on Day 4 of the second Test between the two nations, underway here at Shere Bangla Cricket Stadium.
The skipper conceded just a run in his only over and also missed a wicket merely.
Here’s how netizens reacted on Babar’s first international over:
DHAKA: Pakistan’s top-performer with six wickets on Day 4 of the second Test against Bangladesh, Sajid Khan shared the plan given to them by skipper Babar Azam.
“Bobby Bhai asked us to attack them with a winning approach. I am happy that the plan was executed well and we took their early wickets,” Sajid said in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Sajid praised the support given to him by Nauman Ali from the other end. “Nomi Bhai is very experienced. He also shares his experience with other bowlers. His advice often works for me,” he said.
It must be noted here that Sajid bagged six wickets as Pakistan reduced Bangladesh to 76-7 at stumps on Day 4. Earlier, Pakistan declared their first innings at 300-4 rain spoiled two consecutive days of the game.
DHAKA: Sajid Khan was on song with his spin bowling as Pakistan reduced Bangladesh to 76-7 in the first innings on Day 4 of the second Test here at Shere Bangla Stadium.
Sajid bagged six wickets for 35 runs in his 12 overs to put Pakistan in the driving seat. After declaring at 300-4, Pakistan got rid of Bangladesh with the help of Sajid who rattled the home side’s batting.
He provided early breakthroughs to send Bangladesh to Tea at 22-3. Coming back from a break, Sajid continued his form and kept on taking wickets.
Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 30 runs off 50 balls including three boundaries. Shakib-al-Hasan remained not out for 23.
Earlier, Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan scored half-centuries before Pakistan declared first innings at 300-4.
Resuming Day 4 at 188-2 after rain spoiled two days of the game, Pakistan’s set batters Azhar Ali and Babar Azam couldn’t manage to go long, adding just five runs on Day 4.
Azhar walked off after scoring 56 off 144 balls including eight boundaries. Whereas, Babar scored 76 before he got out to Khaled Ahmed. His innings included nine boundaries and a six.
Fawad and Rizwan then partnered strongly to score 103 runs for the fifth wicket. Fawad remained not out for 50 laced with seven boundaries whereas Rizwan scored 53 off 94 spread over four boundaries and a six.
For Bangladesh, Tajiul Islam bagged two wickets while Khaled and Ebadot Hussain shared a wicket apiece.
DHAKA: Third day of Pakistan- Bangladesh second Test washed out without a ball being bowled, here at Shere Bangla National Stadium on Monday.
Rain also continued to fall on the third day of the ongoing Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, forcing the day to be called off without a ball being bowled.
The fourth day is set to begin at 9:30 AM (Bangladesh time). 98 overs will be bowled tomorrow.
Babar (71*) and Azhar (52*) will resume the innings for Pakistan at 188-2 on fourth-day. The pair put on an undefeated 118-run partnership on the second day.
READ: Azhar, Babar hit fifties but Rain hinders day’s play
DHAKA: Babar Azam and Azhar Ali put on a century stand in a rain interrupted play on Day 2 of the second Test against Bangladesh.
Babar and Azhar, put on an undefeated 118-run partnership before rain forced the second day to be called off with just six overs being bowled.
Babar (60*) and Azhar (36*) resumed the innings for Pakistan at 161-2. The pair ensured that the side do not lost any wickets and converted their overnight 91-run stand into a century-stand, their fourth overall.
Azhar got to his 33rd fifty in style, hitting back-to-back boundaries to Ebadot Hossain in the 61st over.
Pakistan will now resume their innings at 188-2 on third-day.
READ: Bad light interrupts after Babar, Azam take control of Pakistan
DHAKA: Babar Azam and Azhar Ali put up a strong 91-run partnership before Bad Light called off play on Day 1 of the second Test against Bangladesh.
At Tea, Pakistan were in control at 161-2 with Babar having scored his fifty and Azhar being not out at 36. Due to bad light, the two batters had to wait till tomorrow to come out. For next four days starting time of the play will be 9:30 am (Local Time)
Babar remained not out at 60 off 99 laced with seven boundaries and a six whereas Azhar was not out at 36 including four boundaries.
After deciding to bat first, Pakistani openers Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique provided a solid start with 59-run opening stand. Abid and Abdullah, who provided two 100-run opening stands in the previous Test against Bangladesh, couldn’t go long this time around.
Abdullah was dismissed by Tajiul Islam who provided Bangladesh two early scalps. Abid fell to Tajiul after scoring 39 off 81 balls with the help of six boundaries. Abdullah made 25 including two boundaries and a six.
DHAKA: Pakistan’s fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi wished to become the best bowler in all three formats of the game.
Speaking to reporters before the second Test against Bangladesh, Afridi said his focus is to give his best in all three formats.
“Being a young fast bowler in this team, I try my best to contribute to my team in winning cause. I am enjoying playing all three formats and I hope to become the best bowler in all of them,” he said.
Afridi, who recently rose to his career-best fifth rank in Test format, said he never thought of playing in all three formats for Pakistan so quickly.
“I started playing cricket while watching my elder brother Riaz Afridi who was also a Test cricketer. Growing up while watching him taught me so many lessons,” he shared.
“Cricket is inherited and I always try to give my best. I never thought of playing in all three formats for Pakistan so quickly. But, I am grateful to represent Pakistan at the international level,” he said.
To a query about the captaincy offer in Pakistan Super League (PSL), Afridi said he would love to grab any opportunity that comes to him. “I don’t know about the future. But, if any captaincy offer is made to me, I would love to accept it,” Shaheen replied.
It must be noted here that several reports quoted Lahore Qalandars’ co-owner Atif Rana hinting at making Afridi the captain of their franchise in PSL anytime soon.
DHAKA: Pakistan’s former bowling consultant Vernon Philander shared his experience of working with Pakistani bowlers.
In a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Philander said Pakistani bowlers responded so well to him throughout the T20 World Cup and Bangladesh tour.
“I have really enjoyed my time with the Pakistan team. The players have responded me so well and it was worth working with them in the mega event and Bangladesh tour,” he said.
“It was great to know some of the greatest bowling talents in Pakistan. I have tried to share my experience with them and also to learn from them. Unfortunately, we lost in the T20 WC semi-final but we played some really good cricket,” he added.
It must be noted here that PCB chairman Ramiz Raja appointed Philander and Matthew Wade bowling and batting consultants respectively for the mega event in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
DUBAI: Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has gained his career-best fifth rank in International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings for bowlers.
The left-arm pacer bagged seven wickets in the recently concluded opening Test of two-match series against Bangladesh.
Afridi’s wicket-tally reached 83 in Test format. The 21-year-old cricketer made his Test debut in 2018 against Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Hasan Ali also grabbed his career-high 11th rank in bowlers’ ranking for the longer format. The right-arm pacer also took as many wickets as Afridi against Bangladesh in Chattogram Test.
Test opener Abid Ali reached 20th spot in Test ranking for the first time in his career after scoring 133 and 91 against Bangladesh in the first Test.