Pakistan’s shocking defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test match at Rawalpindi on August 25, 2024, marked a historic moment, as it was Bangladesh’s first-ever Test victory against Pakistan.
The match ended with Bangladesh winning by 10 wickets, a result that has left the cricketing community in disbelief, particularly given that it occurred on Pakistan’s home turf.
Here are three key reasons why Pakistan lost this match.
1. Overconfident Declaration
Pakistan’s decision to declare their first innings at 448/6 proved to be a pivotal mistake. While they amassed a significant total, the declaration came too early, allowing Bangladesh ample time to respond.
This overconfidence backfired as Bangladesh capitalized on the opportunity, scoring 565 runs in their first innings. Key contributions from Mushfiqur Rahim (191) and Mehidy Hasan (77) propelled Bangladesh to a commanding lead, which Pakistan could not recover from.
The early declaration not only allowed Bangladesh to take control of the match but also set the stage for a historic win, making it a tactical blunder for the Pakistan management
2. Ineffective Bowling Performance
Pakistan’s bowling attack failed to make an impact in the first innings despite the early declaration. The pace trio of Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf struggled to find their rhythm, while the spinners also failed to make breakthroughs.
Bangladesh’s batters, on the other hand, played the Pakistan bowlers with confidence and ease. The visitors’ ability to score runs at a brisk pace put Pakistan under the pump and allowed them to take a substantial lead.
3. Batting Collapse in 2nd Innings
Chasing a small target of 30 runs to win, Bangladesh completed the formalities with ease. However, it was Pakistan’s batting performance in their second innings that cost them the match.
Resuming the day at 23/1, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for just 146 runs. Barring Mohammad Rizwan (51), none of the batters showed any resistance against the Bangladesh bowlers.
Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan were the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, sharing 7 wickets between them.
Pakistan’s poor batting display in the second innings allowed Bangladesh to seal a historic 10-wicket victory, their first ever Test win against Pakistan.
