Amidst violence and chaos Bangladesh script history with landmark Test series win in Pakistan

Thousands of miles adrift from all the bloodshed, clashes, riots, protests and political turmoil, the Bangladesh cricket team won a historic Test series against Pakistan—its first on Pakistani soil on September 3. For a country that has been jolted by violence and going through a period of turbulence, the victory is no mean feat by any standards. The last time Bangladesh won a major series away from home was way back in 2009 in the Caribbean against the West Indies. Albeit, the Tigers did manage to secure a victory against Zimbabwe in a one-off Test in 2021, the team had long been going through a drought away from home.

Drawing the ire of their fans for some lackluster performances over the years, Bangladesh can tilt their heads away from all the horrors and the political mishaps and smile momentarily for their team’s landmark achievement.

The significance of this remarkable milestone rests with the fact that the Bangla Tigers have managed to do this in the longest format of the game. Seldom, does a low-ranked team (Bangladesh currently placed at No.9) beat a higher ranked team (Pakistan dropped two places from 6 to 8 after a series defeat to Bangladesh) away from home in the most challenging form of the game which is Test cricket.

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In conditions away from home and on pitches that are lifeless and barren, Bangladesh have spiced things up by unearthing two new fast bowlers Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana who left Pakistani batters clueless. Both pacers alongside the experienced Taskin Ahmed scalped all ten wickets in an innings during the second Test in Rawalpindi, a first for Bangladesh.

Rana’s express pace and bounce coupled with Mahmud’s persistent line and length trapped the batters on the outside off-stump that rattled the entire Pakistan team.

At the same time, Mehidy Hasan Miraz rose to the occasion by spinning a web with the ball and did some rear guard occasion with the bat down the order rescuing Bangladesh from precarious positions. Most notably in the second Test when Bangladesh were 26/6 in the first innings.

Moreover, Bangladesh have proved that they are no longer dependent on senior players like Shakib Al Hasan who is in the twilight of his career. The victory meant that Bangladesh is currently in fourth position in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.

The challenge now for Najmul Hossain Shanto’s men will be to keep this winning momentum going as they touch the Indian shores in the coming week for another grueling two-match Test series.

Bangladesh will have to replicate the maturity and discipline they showed during the Pakistan series. Shanto and Co. are at the cusp of history and are in the same situation akin to their subcontinent neighbours Sri Lanka after they won the Asia Cup in 2022, following a government collapse.

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However, Sri Lanka failed to capitalise on the momentum subsequently and eventually stared at the bottom of the barrel, though there is some slight resurgence with a home series win against India and resilience against England in the recently concluded Test series.

If there is one thing that Bangladesh would like in this period of ruckus is to see their countrymen smile even more and what better way to do it than beating India who have been a thorn in their side in big games like a tournament.

However, unlike Pakistan, breaching the fortress of their big neighbour India is near impossible for Bangladesh.