After leading Bangladesh to their first-ever Test series victory against Pakistan, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto shared a heartwarming moment on social media. Shanto posted a picture of himself sleeping peacefully beside the trophy, captioned simply “Good morning” .
This triumph marks a significant milestone for Bangladesh cricket. They secured a remarkable 2-0 whitewash, winning the first Test by 10 wickets and the second by 6 wickets in Rawalpindi.
This series win not only breaks Bangladesh’s 12-match winless streak against Pakistan but also showcases their dominance on Pakistani soil.
Shanto’s emotional gesture has drawn comparisons to similar celebratory moments from other sports figures, such as Lionel Messi sleeping with the World Cup trophy after Argentina’s triumph. This playful homage has resonated with fans and further celebrated Bangladesh’s achievement.
In his post-match comments, Shanto praised the team’s resilience and self-belief, highlighting the crucial partnership between Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz that helped Bangladesh recover from 26/6 in the second Test.
He singled out Mehidy’s exceptional bowling, including a five-wicket haul in challenging conditions, as key to the series win.
Looking ahead, Shanto emphasized the importance of this victory in boosting Bangladesh’s confidence ahead of their upcoming Test series against India starting September 19.
He expressed hope that Mehidy, along with experienced players like Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, can replicate their success in India.
This historic moment not only signifies a personal milestone for Shanto but also represents a turning point for Bangladesh cricket on the international stage. The team’s resilience, skill, and self-belief have been on full display, earning them praise from fans and pundits alike.
The series loss has caused Pakistan to drop to eighth place in the ICC Test rankings, marking their lowest rating points since 1965. Their rating has plummeted to 76 points, which has raised serious concerns about the future of Pakistani cricket, particularly in light of their poor performance in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
Shan Masood, the captain of the Pakistani team, expressed profound disappointment in the aftermath of the series. He noted that the team had failed to learn from past mistakes, reflecting on a pattern of letting opposition teams back into matches after gaining control. This series marked his fifth consecutive Test loss as captain, raising questions about his leadership going forward.
