Babar Azam Return Boosts Pakistan but Bangladesh Eye Historic Win
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Big Picture: Bangladesh on the Rise, Pakistan in Freefall
Bangladesh can hardly contain their excitement as they prepare for the second Test against Pakistan. After a transformative first-Test victory, they are no longer just competing — they’re asserting dominance. This series marks a new era in their red-ball cricket: aggressive, fearless, and refreshingly balanced. Pakistan, on the other hand, arrive battered, mentally strained, and structurally fragile. The momentum is firmly with Bangladesh, and they’re eager to push Pakistan further into the corner.
What stood out most in Dhaka wasn’t just Bangladesh’s win, but how they won. Gone are the days of retreating into defensive shells. This team now thrives under pressure. Where past versions might have folded under fast bowling or tricky conditions, the current side consolidated and counter-attacked. They showed remarkable composure against a team that, on paper, should still command respect.
Their batting resilience, especially through the middle order, laid the foundation. But it’s their bowling depth that truly separates them from Pakistan. The Mirpur pitch was a slow greentop — a challenge many teams struggle to navigate. Yet Bangladesh adapted seamlessly. They fielded a potent attack combining pace, swing, and spin: the raw speed of Nahid Rana, the experience of Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain, supported by the craft of Taijul Islam and the all-round capabilities of Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Pakistan, meanwhile, were left juggling compromises. They could only pick one of Noman Ali or Sajid Khan, and lacked a genuine express pacer to match Rana’s threat. Their batting remains a patchwork of inexperience and fading form. Babar Azam’s return brings a psychological lift, but runs — especially away from home — have been elusive for him and his senior teammates. The burden now falls heavily on two debutants in the top order, a stark illustration of Pakistan’s ongoing vulnerabilities.
Pakistan’s Bowling: A Crisis of Confidence
Pakistan’s seamers failed to assert control early in the first Test, allowing the game to slip away on Day 1. That loss of momentum proved irreversible. Their reliance on home-friendly spin tracks underscores a deeper issue: a lack of faith in their pace attack. With five away Tests looming this summer, a turnaround in Sylhet isn’t just desirable — it’s essential.
Form Guide
Bangladesh: WWWLD
Pakistan: LLWLW
In the Spotlight: Nahid Rana and Babar Azam
Nahid Rana has become a national sensation. His 5 for 40 in Dhaka, highlighted by a four-wicket burst in the final session, showcased his remarkable pace — consistently above 140kph, even late in spells. His aggressive line and relentless lengths rattled Pakistan’s batters. Despite talk of resting him, expect Rana to feature in Sylhet.
For Babar Azam, this Test is a make-or-break moment. Missing the first match due to a knee niggle, he returns with form showing flickers of promise in white-ball cricket — a long-overdue ODI century in Sri Lanka, two PSL tons. But in Tests, his struggles persist. Four half-centuries in 11 innings, yet an average below 26 since 2024. This is the format where he first made his name — and the one where he most needs to rediscover it.
Team News and Probable XIs
Bangladesh may face a minor setback as Mahmudul Hasan Joy trained with a bandaged hand. Zakir Hasan or Tanzid Hasan could step in if required. One pacer might be rested, opening the door for Shoriful Islam.
Bangladesh (probable): Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam
Pakistan will reshuffle their middle order with Babar’s return. Imam-ul-Haq is likely out, with Shan Masood moving to open alongside Azan Awais. Shaheen Shah Afridi may be replaced by Khurram Shahzad. The big question remains: Sajid Khan or Noman Ali? The former could exploit Bangladesh’s left-handers — Mominul and Shanto.
Pakistan (probable): Shan Masood (capt), Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Khurram Shahzad, Noman Ali/Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas
Pitch and Conditions
Sylhet’s weather remains unpredictable. Both teams trained indoors due to rain threats. Forecasts suggest wet conditions, possibly affecting the first few days — even the opening morning. If heavy rain interrupts early play, patience and adaptability will be key.
Stats and Trivia
- A Bangladesh win would make Pakistan the first team in history to lose four consecutive Tests to them. Currently, both Pakistan and Zimbabwe share the unwanted record of three losses.
- Mominul Haque (5006 Test runs) needs 129 more to surpass Tamim Iqbal as Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer. Mushfiqur Rahim leads with 6603.
- Mohammad Abbas is three wickets away from becoming the sixth Pakistan seamer to reach 100 wickets outside Pakistan. His overseas average of 23.02 is the best among the five who’ve achieved the feat.
