Bangladesh in Control as Pakistan Struggles in Rawalpindi Test

In the second Test match at Rawalpindi, Bangladesh made an impactful start by opting to bowl first, claiming a wicket in the very first over. Pakistan’s openers, Saim Ayub and Shan Masood, then managed to navigate through the rest of the session without further losses.

However, Pakistan lost its rhythm after lunch, losing four key wickets: Masood, Ayub, Shakeel, and Babar Azam. By the end of two sessions, Bangladesh had taken five wickets, firmly taking control of the match.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz started the post-lunch session with two quick wickets, while Shakib Al Hasan’s spin trapped Babar Azam leg before wicket (LBW) in the final moments of the session. Pakistan could only manage 84 runs in 30 overs during the afternoon session, losing four wickets in the process.

At the tea break on Day 2, Pakistan's score stood at 183 runs for 5 wickets after 55 overs. Mohammad Rizwan was unbeaten on 18 runs from 37 balls, while his new partner, Salman Ali Agha, was yet to score.

Shan Masood, who completed his fifty before lunch, couldn't extend his innings much further. Despite a review challenge, the Pakistan captain was dismissed for 57 runs. Shortly after, Miraz sent the other set batter, Saim Ayub, back to the pavilion after he had reached his second Test half-century.

Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble after losing both set batters within 9 overs post-lunch. Their situation could have worsened if not for an unfortunate drop by Miraz in the slips, which allowed Saud Shakeel to survive when he had only scored 1 run. Babar Azam then partnered with Shakeel to stabilize the innings.

Taskin Ahmed made another breakthrough by bowling out Shakeel for 16 runs, leaving Pakistan at 151 runs with four wickets down. Babar Azam, who had struggled in the first Test with scores of 0 and 22, finally found some form, bringing some much-needed stability to Pakistan’s innings after losing three quick wickets in the second session.

However, Babar’s resistance ended at 37 runs when he fell to the spin of Shakib Al Hasan, leaving Pakistan in further trouble.