Pakistan faced one of their most embarrassing Test defeats on Sunday (August 25) as they were humbled by Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
After conceding a significant first-innings lead of 117 runs, Pakistan’s second essay folded for just 146 - their lowest innings total against Bangladesh in a Test match.
The visitors needed just 30 runs to go 1-0 up in the two-Test series and they wrapped up the match in 6.3 overs with 10 wickets in hand. This was Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win over Pakistan in 14 matches.
The outcome has left the Pakistan cricket fraternity gutted, with critics pointing to the home team's failure to read the conditions.
Known for his blunt and straightforward opinions, Ahmad Shahzad termed the current phase as the darkest in the country's cricketing history. He held the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for creating this mess.
“The historic downfall of the Pakistan team has begun. The nation has been lied to again and again and today, after the historic humiliating defeat by Bangladesh, the dirty joke has been played again. Whom should the nation ask for an answer from and whose throat should they grab? Who is responsible for all these situations?” Shahzad said in a video posted on his X account.
“I haven’t seen Pakistan go this low in my life. Batting, bowling and fielding is a discussion for another day. But this is a new low in Pakistan cricket. It will be very tough for them to recover from this defeat. They haven’t recovered from the defeat against Afghanistan until today,” he added.
Shahzad slammed the PCB, insisting that their handling of domestic structure is hampering the Test team.
“I told earlier that if you take short term decisions, it will hamper your cricket. Pakistan cricket is already towards darkness, but we did not expect to lose against Bangladesh.
“Players are not at fault. PCB is at fault because players never asked to be picked forcefully. It’s you who are making them play constantly. It’s you who are not letting domestic cricketers come along. You admit that there are not enough players in domestic cricket. If this is the case, what have you made?” he remarked.
This was Pakistan fourth Test loss on the trot after 0-3 whitewash at the hands of Australia last winter. In fact, they haven’t won a Test match at home since 2021.
Pressure will be on the Shan Masood-led side to salvage some pride by winning the second Test against Bangladesh, slated to start on August 30 in Rawalpindi.
