Pakistan lost the first Test by 10 wickets to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan’s 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first of two Tests in Rawalpindi has left R Ashwin baffled. This was the first time Bangladesh defeated Pakistan in a Test match and first time Pakistan lost at home by 10 wickets in a Test.
Pakistan had done well after being put into bat first. Thanks to 171* by Mohammad Rizwan and 141 by Saud Shakeel, they posted 448/6d. Sai Ayub also contributed 56 runs at the top. They had hoped for Bangladesh to roll over and get out quickly as Pakistan opted for four quicks in their XI.
However, opener Shadman Islam (93) and Mominul Haque (50) played supporting roles well as Mushfiqur Rahim made 191 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 77 runs. Bangladesh posted 565 runs in the second innings, taking an important lead of 117 runs.
India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has now admitted that he was surprised by the fact that Pakistan collapsed on a “road” of a pitch.
“The match was in sleep mode for the first three days. Suddenly, Pakistan surprised me when I was about to catch a flight. When I saw the highlights of the match, I understood one thing. The proper, tired collapse on a final day. I haven't seen that for a long time,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
Pakistan did Pakistan-like things and were bundled out for 146 in the second innings with Mohammad Rizwan making 51 runs. Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan picked 7 wickets combined to rout Pakistan.
The required 30 runs to win were hit by Bangladesh without breaking a sweat on the final day and achieved a historic win in their Test history.
Ashwin said that teams don't collapse on pitches like the one that was rolled out in Rawalpindi.
"Teams don't surrender on a pitch like this. In first-class cricket, strong teams will bat first and hit big. The wicket will be a batting wicket. In those two days, they will pull off an all-out in a tired state. When the wicket crumbles, they will get all out again. I got that depiction. There is nothing in the pitch. It's an absolute road.
In fact, in the end, Rizwan was staging a fight. I didn't understand a thing. Naseem Shah played a shot and left cheaply. I didn't understand what just happened. I didn't understand a thing," he added.