BAN VS PAK TESTS

Najmul Hossain Shanto collects the trophy and joins his teammates for the celebrations. With this, a thoroughly engrossing Bangladesh tour of Pakistan has come to an end. Bangladesh will now head home before embarking on their tour of India, where they will play two Tests later this month, followed by three T20Is. As for Pakistan, they have a comparatively longer break, with their next assignment scheduled in October when England will visit for a three-match Test series. However, there's still plenty of action this week. The three-match T20I series between Scotland and Australia kicks off on 4th September, and the third Test between England and Sri Lanka commences on 6th September. It's goodbye for now. Cheers!

The skipper of Bangladesh, Najmul Hossain Shanto expresses immense pride and happiness after winning the series, stating that it means a lot to the team and is beyond words. He praises the pacers for their impressive performance and hard work, highlighting their dedication to winning games for the team. Shanto also commends Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan for their brilliant batting and hopes they continue to take responsibility in future matches. Looking ahead to the next series against India, he acknowledges the importance of experienced players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan and is confident in their continued efforts.

The captain of Pakistan, Shan Masood expresses extreme disappointment and says that the team was excited for the home season  He mentions that the same problems that plagued them in Australia have resurfaced and feels that they have not learned their lessons. States that they played good cricket but not getting the job done is an area that needs improvement. He also points out that this has happened four times during his tenure, where they allowed the opposing team back into the contest after being in a dominant position. He opines that Test cricket demands a different level of fitness. Further says that the decision to play four fast bowlers in the first Test was based on concerns about managing the workload with just three bowlers. He notes that the first innings score of 274 was solid, but acknowledges that he and Saim Ayub could have added more runs, similar to Litton Das. Feels that it’s not all doom and gloom, as there are always lessons to be learned.

Mehidy Hasan is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for his stellar all-round contributions across the series. He says that he is really happy to have gotten a Player of the Series award for the first time outside the country. Feels that it is a tough job playing as all-rounder but he is happy to do the job for the team. He acknowledges the challenge of batting at number 8 but enjoys partnering with experienced players like Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim. Miraz is proud of achieving a five-wicket haul and aims to improve further. Reflecting on his absence from the T20 World Cup, he credits the support staff for their constant backing and appreciates his supportive teammates.

Litton Das is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his superb ton. He says that he just believed in himself during a challenging spell of bowling from Pakistan. Tells that he and Mehidy Hasan focused on batting long, and once Mehidy hit a four and a six, the momentum began to shift in their favour.  Adds that when Hasan Mahmud came to the crease, his aim was to play as many overs as possible. Lauds Hasan for his excellent support at the other end. Mentions that he enjoys keeping in Tests and when he performs well behind the stumps, it positively impacts the team's overall performance. States that the situation back home wasn't up to the mark, but they came here and practised hard.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Hasan Mahmud is in for a chat next. He praises his team's effort, highlighting their hard work and dedication throughout the series. He commends the fast bowlers for actively seeking wickets and putting in the effort. Hasan emphasizes the importance of fast bowlers capitalizing on opportunities and the need for continuous hard work, especially in red-ball cricket. He also notes the significance of fast bowlers and spinners combining their efforts to succeed.

Litton Das is up for a chat. He says that he is very happy and satisfied with the result and it has been a very good show of character from the entire side. Gives credit to Mehidy Hasan for batting the way he did. He ends by saying that it has been a good outing for the entire team and the way they have played in both the Test matches, shows real growth on their part.

The Test match began with a washout on Day 1 due to persistent rain, preventing any play. Day 2 saw clear skies, and Bangladesh won the toss, opting to bowl first. Pakistan had a shaky start with Abdullah Shafique falling early, but fifties from Saim Ayub and Shan Masood stabilized the innings. Despite their efforts, the middle order struggled to capitalize, and it was Agha Salman's 54 that guided Pakistan to a total of 274. Mehidy Hasan was the standout for Bangladesh, claiming a five-wicket haul. In reply, Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan survived unscathed to close the day out for Bangladesh.

Day 3 brought drama as Bangladesh crumbled to 26/6 in the morning session, with Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza wreaking havoc. However, a historic 165-run partnership between Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz for the seventh wicket brought Bangladesh back into the game. Never before had Test cricket witnessed a seventh-wicket partnership of 150 or more runs after the first 6 wickets had fallen for 30 runs or less. Mehidy fell for 78, but Litton went on to score a century, and with Hasan Mahmud's support, Bangladesh posted 262, just 12 runs behind Pakistan's total. Khurram Shahzad shone for Pakistan with a six-wicket haul, but Pakistan faltered again, ending the day at 9/2 with a slim lead of 21 runs.

On Day 4, Pakistan began positively with Shan Masood and Saim Ayub looking promising. However, Taskin Ahmed's breakthrough initiated a collapse, and Nahid Rana compounded Pakistan's woes. Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman attempted to rebuild after lunch, but Hasan Mahmud struck twice, dismissing Rizwan and leaving Salman to battle with the tail. Salman's unbeaten 47-run knock gave Pakistan something to bowl at as they folded for 172, setting Bangladesh 185 runs for victory. Hasan Mahmud was the star of the show with a maiden five-wicket haul in just his third Test, while Nahid Rana claimed four wickets. With the bat, Zakir Hasan set the tone in the chase, helping Bangladesh score at a brisk rate before bad light and subsequent rain brought an end to the day's play.

Earlier, Bangladesh began their day, needing 143 more runs to win with all ten wickets intact. Pakistan's bowlers were disciplined from the start, making the visitors work hard for every run. The morning session saw a couple of key breakthroughs that briefly energized the hosts and gave them hope. However, they struggled to build on those breakthroughs. Mominul Haque played a crucial role in taking the pressure off Najmul Hossain Shanto by rotating the strike effectively. Consequently, Shanto was able to settle into his innings and score more freely. After setting up the chase, Mominul and Shanto both fell after the Lunch break, but the experienced duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim brought much-needed calmness to the middle. Their composed presence ensured that Bangladesh got the job done without any further hiccups, sealing a historic victory.

History has been made in Rawalpindi, again! Bangladesh have completed a series whitewash against Pakistan for the first time in Test cricket. Coming into the series without a single Test win against Pakistan, they have now won two in a row to inflict a whitewash over their Asian rivals. This result has catapulted Bangladesh from sixth to fourth place in the World Test Championship standings, leapfrogging South Africa and England. For Pakistan, it's back to the drawing board with much to reflect on, particularly how they let Bangladesh off the hook after reducing them to 26/6 in the first innings.

FOUR! And that's it! Shakib Al Hasan seals the win with a boundary! The two senior players see Bangladesh home. Jubilant scenes in the Bangladesh camp as Najmul Hossain Shanto and his teammates embrace each other in celebration. Coming to the delivery, this was tossed up, full and wide on off, Shakib Al Hasan reached out in front and cracked the drive through covers for a boundary. Bangladesh win by 6 wickets and complete a 2-0 clean sweep!

Googly, short and on off, Shakib Al Hasan reads it well and keeps it out on the off side.

Tosses it up does Abrar, full and on middle and leg, Shakib Al Hasan steps out to work it on the leg side but misses. The ball comes off his pads and the short leg fielder picks it up and hits the stumps at the batting end but Shakib is in.

Slower and shorter, on off, Shakib Al Hasan waits on it and with an open bat face, he glides it past first slip for a couple of runs. Just a boundary away now.

Short and on middle, Shakib Al Hasan stabs it down the deck.