Pakistan’s hopes of winning the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi were dashed after the visitors took an unexpected first innings lead of 117 runs. The lead has given Bangladesh a glimmer of hope for a victory, while Pakistan’s pacer Naseem Shah has criticized the pitch for not providing the home advantage they desired.
After the end of the fourth day’s play on Saturday, Shah called out the board for not creating a pitch that could give the hosts the advantage they sought. “We have had enough series where we had such pitches,” Shah said in the post-match press conference. “They did their best to prepare a pitch that was helpful, but I think because of the heat, or excessive sunshine, the surface wasn’t quite helpful.”
Shah emphasized the need for home advantage, stating that it is crucial to get a match result at any cost. “We didn’t get the help we expected from the pitch,” he said. “But everyone tried their best.”
In the second innings on Day 4, Pakistan started badly when opener Saim Ayub was dismissed for just a single. However, Mushfiqur Rahim played a brilliant innings, adding 114 with Liton Das for the sixth wicket and then a record 194 for the seventh wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Bangladesh’s previous Test best against Pakistan was the 555-6 they made at Khulna in 2015.
Pakistan will need to bat aggressively in the second innings to chase down the target and avoid defeat. The match is evenly poised, and either team could emerge victorious.
