Bangladesh are looking to make another history by sealing a maiden Test series victory against Pakistan, when they take on the hosts in the series-deciding second match today at Rawalpindi.
The match starts at 11 AM (Bangladesh Time) and will be aired live on Gazi TV and T Sports.
Currently leading the series 1-0, following their 10-wicket victory, which was their first ever Test victory against Pakistan in 14th attempt, Bangladesh are seeking to replicate the same performance.
When Bangladesh took the field for the first Test, the record was not in their favour. They had lost 12, most of which came at an innings margin and drew one and so almost everyone had written them off.
But Bangladesh turned the table impeccably in the last week, dominating Pakistan right from the start to clinch a 10-wicket victory.
This time also the record was not in Bangladesh’s favour as they geared for a Test series victory. In the last 24 years, Bangladesh won just 20 Tests and lost 105 in 143 matches. The number of Test series victory is 10.
Bangladesh played 60 two-matches Test series, winning 3 and drawing 9 while they lost the rest of the series.
As per stat, Bangladesh won their all three Test series after winning the first match. But at the same time, after winning the first Test, they had to draw seven Test series. So the record said, Bangladesh remain vulnerable most of the time, when they play to win the series.
The last time, they had to draw a series after winning the first Test was against New Zealand at home den.
It is believed that the expectation of winning the Test series created a pressure to which they succumbed albeit the captain Najmul Hossain Shanto denied it categorically in the past.
However, Shanto believes, this time Bangladesh will break this jinx and prove that they are able to be consistent throughout the Test series.
In fact, Bangladesh will play six more Tests this year, sans the second Test against Pakistan and so consistency is key to be a Test giant, which is their eventual goal.
As Bangladesh is on the brink of a history but it is expected Pakistan will come back strongly to avoid a series defeat.
Pakistan went with a all pace attack in the first Test, a strategy a backfired miserably. They included legspinner Abrar Ahmed to squad along with pacer Aamer Jamal and batter Kamran Ghulam.
Abrar’s inclusion has a merit as Bangladesh are traditionally vulnerable against legspinners. The success of the Tigers will largely depend on how they deal with Abrar who took 38 wickets in six matches so far.
But after the Rawalpindi pitch played to Bangladesh’s strength, the behaviour of the wicket may change in the final Test. Reports suggested that the wicket looked greenish that can play to Pakistan’s strength.
Moreover, there was consistent rain which washed out the practice session of the both teams for the last two days in a row.
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Hasan Mahmud, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nahid Rana, Nayeem Hasan, Shadman Islam, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Taijul Islam and Zakir Hasan
Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abrar Ahmed, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk) and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Match officials: Adrian Holdstock and Richard Kettleborough (on-field umpires), Michael Gough (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire) and Ranjan Madugalle (match referee)
