Last Hurrah for Pakistan

 a convincing 328 runs win over host Bangladesh in the second and final Dan Cake test at Dhaka yesterday. Pakistan won its only match of the seven they played in Bangladesh losing five and drawing one. Bangladesh earned a very honorable draw from record setting second innings batting in the first test at Khulna.

Bangladesh earlier white washed Pakistan in three matches ODI series and won the only T20 match playing entertaining and exciting cricket. Many say all well that ends well. Perhaps that did not happen. But huge milestones those Bangladesh Cricket achieved through the bilateral series must not be undermined from one huge defeat.

If one looks back in retrospect and objectively analyze the series there has been lot to take pride upon Bangladesh performance yet lot to learn as well. Bangladesh never won anything against Pakistan in cricket before except the lone victory in World Cup match in 1999. In this series Bangladesh comprehensively white washed Pakistan in ODI which contributed to Bangladesh occupying seventh position in ICC ODI ranking jumping over Pakistan and West Indies. By any scale of measurement it is a huge achievement. Bangladesh also won the T20 match in a convincing fashion against formidable opposition which was a first time achievement against Pakistan.

Bangladesh is not rated a competitive test team in international arena. Pakistan in this particular format is highly rated. They are ranked third in ICC test ranking. For Bangladesh to even create competition with them in test was a huge challenge .Yet Bangladesh could earn a honorable draw in the first test batting exceptionally well in the first test where few world records were established.

Nothing will be written in the record book whether Khulna Wicket was a flat bed or whether Pakistani bowlers bowled poorly. But admirable Bangladesh batting in the second innings, the record setting 312 runs opening partnership between Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes, Bangladesh fighting gallantly from 296 runs first innings deficit will be written in the letters of gold.

Yes there must be extensive soul searching and post mortem about embarrassing Bangladesh defeat at Dhaka test. A very strong and highly experienced Pakistan team defeating Bangladesh in test match is no news. But the manner in which Bangladesh meekly surrendered must be looked into and assessed.

Why Such a Grass Top Wicket?

We must start with the grass top wicket and the manner it deteriorated over the four days. Why such surface was presented for the test? Who prescribed it? In bilateral series home teams has the prerogative to prepare wicket. Every country prepares wickets to suit their strength. Dhaka wicket heavily favored Pakistan and was tailor made for Pakistani bowlers. Bangladesh does not even play domestic cricket on such a wicket. This wicket was rather a gift to visiting team and Bangladesh players were made sacrificial goat.

Indifferent Team Selection:

Selection of test team was definitely not right. Several players play admirably well in all departments in longer version domestic formats. Most of our limited over version players do not appear in longer version domestic cricket. Soumya Sharkar and Shubhagato were wrongly preferred over Naeem Islam, Shabbir and Nasir . Bangladesh bowling attack was really very shallow and thin. Rubel Hossain and Shahid should have Al Amin, Rabiul as back up bowlers. In a rare case premier bowler Shakib failed to deliver with the bowl and Bangladesh attack looked pretty ordinary. Pakistan played three innings. One score was above 600 and another above 550. Bowlers could not create much impression even on bowling friendly Dhaka wicket.

The selection muddle was not that much surfaced at Khulna test in the euphoria of brilliant batting. But got seriously imposed at Dhaka when even with 8 genuine batsmen Mushfique possibly under instruction elected to field on a grass top wicket with a lean bowling resource. Fortune also disfavored and main strike bowler Shahadat got injured in the very first over and there after Mushfique had to struggle with heavily depleted bowling resource. His mental stress was reflected later in his batting in both the innings.

Pakistan batting first could post 557 runs in the first innings. Agree Azhar and Younis got reprieve being out in no balls. But did Bangladesh bowl well enough to restrict Pakistan? Why Bangladesh could not bat first and absorb the initial shock? Batting on day two and three became more difficult for disconcerting and uneven bounce,turn. If Bangladesh team was not good enough to bat against Pakistan bowling on the first day of a home test match why such wicket was prepared or such team was selected?

Several players batted brilliantly on flat Khulna wicket but no one excepting Shakib in the first innings and Mominul in the second could apply and bat sensibly at Dhaka. Pathetically senior batsmen like Tamim, Mahamudullah, Mushfique and Shakib threw away their wickets in the second innings when discretion was essential. There was serious lack of commitment in the batting in the second innings and body language was extremely poor.

What Pakistan Did?

Pakistan team was under serious criticism from their cricket community for lackluster performance. First they concentrated on fitness. They analyzed each Bangladesh players and identified their weaknesses. When they realized that Dhaka wicket will be different to what they played on at Khulna they included Imran Khan as third pacer and despite of strong urge for playing Saeed Ajmal opted for Yasir Shah the leg spinner. When the opportunity for batting first on the wicket came through courtesy of Mushfique they grabbed with both hands. Yes they struggled in the first session dealing with quality bowling of Mohammad Shahid. But once initial uncertainties were over Younis Khan and Azhar Ali batted like champion test batsmen. Bangladesh batsmen must learn test batsmen ship from the innings Azhar and Younis first and later Asad Shafique played.

Pakistan bowled according to plan in the first innings. Junaid and Imran were seaming and swinging. Wahab Riaz created panic with his fast short rb cage aiming stuff. Yasir with his varieties mesmerized. Bangladesh batsmen appeared inept and novice in countering till Shakib unleashed a vicious counter attack. But his heroics could only give some respectability to Bangladesh Innings.

Misbah did not enforce follow on avoiding the possibility of batting last on the wearing pitch and himself took the responsibility of presenting a huge 550 runs target to Bangladesh and batting of 190 plus overs to survive.

Bangladesh meekly surrendered when all batsmen excepting Mominul failed to bat with patience and discretion. Wicket was difficult and bowling was of high standard but batting was absolutely substandard.

Pakistan established its superiority in unqualified terms winning by a huge margin of 328 runs. Pakistan won the series and preserved its number three standing in the ICC test ranking.