Why Bangladesh's maiden Test win over Pakistan holds huge importance

Bangladesh scripted history in the first of two Tests in Rawalpindi on Sunday. The Tigers, led by skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, registered a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Shan Masood’s Pakistan .

It isn’t an ordinary victory for Bangladesh. After going winless against Pakistan in the 13 Tests prior to this match - 12 losses and one draw - such a victory would certainly put smiles on the faces of not just the players and the coaching staff, but also the die-hard fans back home, where the situation is tense due to anti-government political protests.

On 5 August, 2024, the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was forced to resign and fled the country after student-led protests against a quota system for government jobs. The protests caused chaos, leading to the multiple deaths.

Around the same time, it was reported that Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan that was scheduled for August, was doubtful. Only a few days prior to the political turmoil in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had requested from the country’s government to be provided with a security consultant for the Pakistan tour, due to the political situation in the country.

Even the Bangladesh ‘A’ team’s tour of Pakistan was in jeopardy. And while both tours went ahead eventually, it hasn’t been easy to keep focus on cricket alone.

Shakib Al Hasan, former Bangladesh captain, was reportedly among 147 people named in an FIR for alleged murder during the political unrest.

However, the 37 year-old still went on to play the first Test. He finished with figures of 1/100 and 3/44 in the first Test and more importantly for Bangladesh, it was about keeping the morale high amid a difficult situation back home.

For almost the first two days of the Test in Rawalpindi, Pakistan dominated proceedings. Centuries from Saud Shakeel (141) and Mohammad Rizwan (171*) put them in front.

However, that did not last long, as Mushfiqur Rahim’s 191 in Bangladesh’s first innings reply set the platform. Sure, you cannot count out contributions from Shadman Islam (93), Mominul Haque (50), Litton Das (56) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (77). But, such was the visitors’ performance that not even political turmoil at home could stop them from destroying Pakistan.

This collective performance took Bangladesh to 565, and led the script for an eventual win. For Bangladesh, it’s always been about the belief within the team and it was a similar story on Sunday.

“It’s very special, last night I spoke with my wife. She said if we win, it will be very good and luckily, we won today. It’s very massive, we had never won here, but we believed before the start of the series and we did really well. Especially in the last 10-15 days, we have worked really hard,” captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said after the match.

Looking at the bigger picture, this win will be a benchmark for what’s to come in Bangladesh cricket — India and South Africa are now the only two teams Bangladesh are yet to beat in a Test match. However, if there’s anything that this match will be remembered for, it will be for the way how Bangladesh never really gave up as a unit despite the off-field troubles.