Viral Video: History was made with this Bangladesh team beating Pakistan 2-0 in the Test series, whitewashing them for the first time in a two-Test series on Asian soil. A victory that has not only shocked Pakistan but sent shockwaves through the cricketing world was Bangladesh’s biggest success in Test cricket to date. Bangladesh, other than this victory, had only managed to sweep a Test series in the past against the West Indies way back in 2009, and this win in Pakistan pegs them up a bit higher as far as their standing in the longer format is concerned.
Backlash Faced by the Pakistani Team
The poltergeists of defeat saw the Pakistan cricket team receive flak from ardent fans, former players, and analysts alike. More particularly, the captain of the team, Babar Azam, had been the face of these defeats for quite a while now. YouTubers Wasay Habib and Syed Qamar Raza Iffi are always known for their candid, harsh analysis, as they give vent to their frustration with the team.
They did not mince words and lashed out at the performance of the Pakistan cricket team, terming it “shameless”, and ruined the future for the country. They mentioned that back-to-back losses against Bangladesh at home had been a shame and had raised a question as to where Pakistan’s cricket was headed under the captaincy of Babar Azam. No doubt, their comments were blunt; still, they reflected growing discontent in the cricketing community of Pakistan.
They said, “They are shameless, they are the products of illegitimate cricket. You have given a message to the young generation of Pakistan that son, stop playing or else you will be ruined. You put rotis on the tandoor and they will play cricket. They will lose to Afghanistan but they will play, they will suffocate us against USA but they will play. Now they have shamed us by losing two matches consecutively on their home pitch to Bangladesh. This “ghante ka king” will ruin Pakistan’s cricket as long as he is attached to it. There is only infamy, anonymity and humiliation left in his cricket career. This video has been posted on Twitter by Ghar ka kalesh.
Pakistan Lose Again
Still smarting from a disappointing 10-wicket defeat in the first Test, Pakistan looked to put up a good fight in the second match but succumbed once again. Despite a Fighting first innings, Pakistan’s Batting and Bowling failed to rise to the occasion when it mattered most. The team managed to reach a total of 274 runs, thanks to half-centuries from Saim Ayyub, Shan Masood, and Agha Salman. Yet key players like Babar Azam, who managed 31 runs, Abdullah Shafique, who got out for naught, Saud Shakeel, contributing a meager 16 runs, and Mohammad Rizwan, making 29 runs, were unable to contribute much. Performances of Pakistan in home series have been up and down for quite a while, and hence another defeat added to their calamity.
Pakistan lost their second home Test series in three years, after being swept 0-3 by England in 2022. The same old failure back-to-back at home has thus created an inferior atmosphere among frenzied fans, pundits, and ex-players who are fiercely criticizing them.
Litton Das’ Heroics Lead Bangladesh’s Fightback
Victory was anything but easy for Bangladesh. After Pakistan chalked up the first-innings total, Bangladesh, chasing it, found themselves in deep trouble. Losses kept piling on, and they had lost as many as six wickets for a paltry 26 runs. However, Liton Das stood tall, playing a match-defining knock. The counter-attacking century rescued Bangladesh from a precarious position as the team was able to amass a respectful total of 262 runs before getting bowled out. Das’ innings helped Bangladesh stay in the game and gave the momentum required to take on Pakistan.
The Bangladeshi bowlers did an excellent job in the second innings, restricting Pakistan to a modest 172. Hasan Mahmud was the star with the ball, picking up a brilliant five-wicket haul that dismantled the Pakistan batting lineup. His efforts were important to setting up Bangladesh’s path to victory.
Bangladesh Complete the Chase
Bangladesh were set up for a target of 185 runs to win and, after receiving a few early setbacks, eventually chased down the total rather comfortably with six wickets in hand. The victory not only sealed Bangladesh’s first ever Test series whitewash over Pakistan but also reflected upon their increasing heft in the format, let alone away from home.
Then, the failure of Pakistan to defend the target, the failure to restrict Bangladesh’s batsmen, exposed their weaknesses regarding Test cricket once again. The absence of star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, too owing to his son’s birth, was greatly felt. Afridi’s presence would have made a big difference as, with him firing in the bowling attack, Bangladesh’s middle and lower order would have been compelled.
A Dark Chapter in the History of Pakistan Cricket
This defeat to Bangladesh will be remembered as a dark chapter in Pakistan’s cricket history. Losing a home series is considered to be a big jolt to a team with such a rich legacy in the sport. The defeat has also brought into question the future of Pakistan’s Test team, along with the leadership of Babar Azam, who now finds himself at the centre of mounting pressure.
On the contrary, this series win is monumental for Bangladesh as it builds confidence in them and sends a signal to the other teams that Bangladesh is no longer a pushover even away from home when it comes to Test cricket.
A victory of historic proportion that Bangladesh celebrates amidst the gaze of the cricketing world, whereas Pakistan has to go back and reflect upon what went wrong, how they can bounce back anytime soon.
