3 things Pakistan need to do right to beat Bangladesh in 1st Test in Rawalpindi
Despite much apprehension due to the unrest in the country, Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan is set to take place as planned. The two teams will battle each other in two Tests, both in Rawalpindi, starting August 21.
As for Pakistan, they have endured a series of dismal results from the middle of last year. It started with the horrific Asia Cup and ODI World Cup campaigns and a forgettable Test series whitewash in Australia.
Pakistan hit rock bottom when they suffered an embarrassing defeat to minnows USA and a heartbreaking loss to India to bow out of the 2024 T20 World Cup before the Super Eights.
With several personnel changes from then to now, Pakistan will look to start their home season and the first assignment under new Test coach Jason Gillespie on the right note. They will take solace from never losing a Test match to Bangladesh, winning 12 out of 13 games with a lone draw.
Yet, Pakistan will be well aware of the perils of underestimating lesser-ranked oppositions from their shocking defeat to the USA in the recent T20 World Cup.
Furthermore, Pakistan are sixth on the World Test Championship (WTC) table with two wins in five Tests. Any hope of finishing in the top two to qualify for the final next year will hinge on them winning the Bangladesh series.
On that note, here are three things Pakistan must do to defeat Bangladesh in the first Test in Rawalpindi.
#1 Bat big in the first innings
It isn't rocket science to highlight the importance of a big first-innings total on Asian conditions when the pitch generally behaves at its best for batters. The last time the two teams met in Pakistan in 2020 was also in Rawalpindi.
In that encounter, Pakistan built an innings victory off a massive first-innings lead of 212 runs. After restricting Bangladesh to 233, the hosts fed off brilliant centuries from opener Shan Masood and ace batter Babar Azam to post 445 in their first essay.
The lack of mammoth first innings totals was a primary reason Pakistan suffered a 0-3 whitewash at home against England in 2022. While the first Test defeat despite scoring 579 in the first innings can be attributed more to England's Bazball approach, the Asian side scored only 202 and 304 in the first innings of the next two Tests.
Also heightening the importance of a mammoth first innings total is Pakistan's playing XI selection with an all-pace attack and no specialist spinners. Such an approach indicates Pakistan's desire to utilize whatever life there may be for pacers in the Rawalpindi track to build a sizable first-innings lead.
With the lack of spin options to take advantage of a potentially wearing pitch on the final two days, a big first innings with the bat becomes paramount for Pakistan to seize control of the series opener.
#2 Use the pacers in short and aggressive bursts
Pakistan entering the first Test against Bangladesh with four seam-bowling options and only the part-time spin of Salman Ali Agha could be early signs about the Rawalpindi pitch.
Irrespective, Pakistan must use their four pacers - Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, and Mohammad Ali in short bursts. Even if the pitch is helpful to the pacers in the first innings, there is a high possibility it slows down and flattens during the latter stages of the encounter.
With all four pacers carrying injury history, skipper Shan Masood must ensure they have enough left in the tank during each spell, while also being mindful of the possibility of needing them for many overs in one or both the innings.
Utilizing the pacers in short spells will also enable using them for potential bouncer barrages at full tilt to exploit the Bangladesh batters' frailties against the short ball.
#3 Negate the Shakib Al Hasan threat
While Bangladesh have enjoyed no success against Pakistan in Tests as a team, former skipper Shakib Al Hasan has relished batting against the Asian rivals. He averages an incredible 63.50 against Pakistan with a century and four half-centuries in five Tests.
Even on a low-scoring Mirpur track the last time the two teams met in Tests in 2021, the veteran all-rounder scored 33 and 63.
Shakib has shown a tendency recently to fall for the short-ball trap and the four-pronged Pakistan pace attack will do well to go the bouncer route exclusively against him.
Should the Rawalpindi pitch be low-scoring, Shakib's batting could be the lifeline for Bangladesh to stay afloat with Pakistan and possibly force an upset. The southpaw has also been key with the bat in Bangladesh's rare Test wins, averaging almost 47, while only 35.31 in defeats.
Hence, the home-side bowlers must come hard at Shakib with clear game plans to remove him as early as possible.