In 333 arduous minutes, the 29-year-old Liton Das struck 138 runs and with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who scored a fierce 78, forced Bangladesh back into the game with a valiant 165-run seventh-wicket stand.
With opener Abdullah Shafique out for three and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad falling for a duck, Bangladesh responded at the end of the third day to leave Pakistan with a 9-2 deficit. Both dismissals came at the hands of bowler Hasan Mahmud.
Former Pakistan batsman Ahmad Shahzad, known for his no-holds barred criticism of the Pakistan cricket team and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), again slammed the dismal show of the team in the second Test.
In a video uploaded on his official X handle, Ahmad Shahzad says, “Pakistan have made another unwanted record against Bangladesh. It seems like Bangladesh cricket team has come only to make records. Pakistan bowlers did will to dismiss 6 Bangladesh batsmen for just 26 runs, but after that, you let a 150-run stand flourish. And this has happened for the first time in history that a team had taken 6 wickets inside 30 runs and then see a 150-run stand for the seventh wicket take the match away.”
Praising Pakistan pacers Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad, Ahmad Shahzad says, “At a time it was looking that things are under your control. These youngsters (Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad) who had toiled hard in domestic cricket and hadn’t come from Mohenjo-daro, had been waiting for their chances for a long time and today they got an opportunity because some senior bowler was missing and they both delivered for you. Khurram Shahzad bowled well today, hitting the weak areas of the Bangladesh batsmen, exposing their weak techniques and dismissed them.”
Das and Mehidy’s match-turning stand was the day’s high point.
Additionally, Das tied the partnership record against Pakistan with tail-ender Mahmud (13 not out) for 69 runs in a 24.5-over ninth wicket stand, frustrating the home team.
Das reached his fourth hundred in a Test match after being dropped by spinner Abrar Ahmed at ninety, following a late cut off the same bowler. After a while, he eventually caved in to Agha Salman.
Arriving at the crease with Bangladesh reeling at 26-5, Das blasted 13 boundaries and four sixes en route to a massive 236 for the last four wickets.
Pakistan lead by 21 runs, and will need to bat smartly to clinch a series-levelling win after losing the first Test, also in Rawalpindi, by 10 wickets.
Bangladesh’s win last week was their first in 14 attempts against Pakistan.
