Bangladesh all out 332 (Mominul Haq 80, Imrul Kayes 51, Mahamudullah Riad 49, Soumya Sarkar 33, Mushfiqur Rahim 32, Tamim Iqbal 25, Shakib Al Hasan 25, Wahab Riaz 3/55, Yasir Shah 3/86, Mohammad Hafiz 2/47, Zulfiqur Babar 2/99) Pakistan 227/1 (Mohammad Hafiz 137*, Azhar Ali 65*)

Bangladesh Test team got back to business as usual on day two after a fighting first day finishing at even kill with Pakistan at 236/4. But a dramatic collapse on second morning triggered from a careless gifting of wicket of Shakib Al Hasan saw Bangladesh loosing last five wickets for 27 runs. Bangladesh got bundled out for 332. Pakistan cruised to 227/1 toying with pathetic Bangladesh bowling on the same wicket which appeared like a mine field for the Bangladesh batsmen. It was Sami Aslam, Hafiz and Azhar who struggled against a different Bangladesh bowling unit under a different captain Mashrafee only few days earlier off course in a different format. Bangladesh team in between had PM’s reception and heard announcement for generous cash and kind gifts.

Pakistan is firmly on the drivers seat at the end of day two with Hafiz back in business looking dangerous at 137 and composed Azhar Ali on 65.  Pakistan is 105 behind with 9 wickets at hand. Veterans Younis Khan and Misbah are next in line. Asad Shafique and Sarfraz to follow. Bangladesh has huge task at hand. If they fail to make early in roads into the heart of Pakistan batting on day three they will have to chase leather and get ready to be buried under Run Mountain. Then the familiar scene of struggle for saving the follow on will have to be witnessed.

What has happened in few days in between ODI, T20 and test? Why Bangladesh required bringing so many changes to a set winning combination even though a different format? Bangladesh does not possess enough international class players of quality like Australia, South Africa or India to have special teams for different formats. Why performing players like Shabbir and Nasir were ignored? Why Jubair considered being a tramp card for test was not included in playing XI despite of selecting him in the squad? Quality leg spin bowlers are asset for a test team. Pakistan preferred Yasir Shah over experienced world class bowler Saeed Ajmal. On what ground Shubhagato got preference? Where is Al Amin gone? No one seems to take any notice of him these days.

We accept that Mashrafee can no longer endure the rigors of a test match .But what was wrong in playing Taskin and using him in short burst? Is he carrying injury? We possibly accepted the fact that we cannot win test so we dared to experiment and now already reached the edge of a deep crater.

An inform Shabbir yesterday in late middle order had more chances of delivering than those playing there. I will particularly blame Shakib for playing a very poor and irresponsible stroke. He should have been more careful .He had similar cavalier approach on one occasion in day one also. Bangladesh paid the penalty. Panic set in the camp and batting collapsed. At one stage Bangladesh was looking good for 400 plus. But good bowling by Wahab Riaz, Yasir and Babar bundled Bangladesh out for 332. So many players got in and got out. Senior professionals like Tamim, Shakib and Mushfique can only blame themselves for not kicking on. There cannot any excuse why Bangladesh could not reach 400 from where they were at 305/5. There was no venom at the wicket. If there was any how it evaporated when Bangladesh bowled?

When Pakistan came to bat it was complete turnaround. Hafiz started ruling the roost from the very outset. It seemed that another surface was air lifted and a new drop in pitch was transplanted. Mushfique handled his bowling resources very poorly, field setting was worse. He himself dropped Azhar Ali twice. Bangladesh took severe punishment. Hafiz got back to his brilliant best and Azhar recovered. On the same wicket where Pakistani bowlers teased and tormented Bangladesh batsmen to crumbled Bangladesh bowling was like ordinary net bowling stuff . How can things change so dramatically?

Pakistan will resume batting with tails up at 227/1. Prolific Younis Khan and dependable Misbah are slotted at four and five. If Bangladesh cannot take 3-4 quick wickets they are already out of the match. Rest of Pakistan batting will see Bangladesh desperately searching the leather. Pakistan will get a sizable lead to put Bangladesh on huge pressure for saving the ignominy of innings defeat.

Cricket is a different game. Test cricket is way too different than other formats. Need patience, need to paly session to session, need to play consistently well. Selectors making whole sale change from a settled side and more particularly presenting a below par bowling unit to Mushfique did not do justice. A seemingly big defeat (hope not) will obviously make coming back at Dhaka extremely difficult. Bangladesh will then have to face strong India in a demoralized state.

Let us hope that Bangladesh appears with a different mindset on third morning and put in a fighting spirit.

BDST: 1045 HRS, APR 30, 2015
HB/SMS