DHAKA: Mohammad Abbas claimed five wickets to restrict Bangladesh to 413 before two debutant batsmen combined to launch a sturdy reply by Pakistan in the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

Opener Azan Awais hit an unbeaten 85 and Abdullah Fazal, also playing in his first Test, was 37 not out as Pakistan reached 179-1 at stumps on the second day.

The tourists trail Bangladesh by 234 runs but veteran Pakistan seamer Abbas was the standout performer, claiming three wickets in the morning session after the home side resumed at 301-4.

Right-armer Abbas took two more wickets after lunch and finished with figures of 5-92 from 34 overs, the sixth five-wicket haul of his career.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto laid a strong platform on the first day with 101. Mushfiqur Rahim, who was 48 not out overnight, then went on to make a gritty 71 off 179 balls, Mushfiqur celebrated his 39th birthday by equalling Tamim Iqbal’s record of 42 innings of 50 or more for Bangladesh in Test cricket.

Bangladesh began day two well before 36-year-old Abbas dismantled their innings with disciplined bowling.

Litton Das fell for 33 while attempting a pull shot, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz was out for 10 one ball after hitting a six.

Taijul Islam edged a bouncer from Abbas for 17 before paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled Mushfiqur in the first over after lunch.

Taskin Ahmed made a late cameo of 28 before falling to Afridi, who finished with 3-113.

Senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin lamented that Bangladesh were unable to post a bigger score and pinpointed slips catching as an area of concern after two chances were dropped.

“I think if we could have scored another 50-60 runs it would have been much better for us,” he said. “Our slip catching needs a lot of improvement. It is a specialised area and we will talk about how to improve further.”

Pakistan began their innings strongly, with left-handers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan adding 106 for the opening wicket before Mehidy trapped Imam lbw for 45. Imam faced 72 balls and hit six fours.

Azan, who represents Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in Pakistan’s domestic circuit, started his Test career productively as when the 21-year-old completed the fifty off 65 balls. In all, he struck 12 fours during his 133-ball stay at the wicket.

Imam praised Abbas and the two new batsmen.

“Abbas bowled very well, everybody knows how good he is,” Imam said. “The way Azan batted, taking and absorbing all the pressure, the kid really held his composure. I am very happy to see both of them playing so well.”

Pakistan are playing a two-Test series against Bangladesh after more than one-and-a-half years. Last time Pakistan faced Bangladesh in the five-day format at home where the tourists recorded a stunning 2-0 whitewash with both matches played in Rawalpindi. The victories also marked first-ever Test wins for Bangladesh, who played their maiden game in Test cricket in 2000, against Pakistan.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 301-4):
Mahmudul Hasan c Rizwan b Shaheen 8
Shadman Islam c Salman b Hasan13
Mominul Haque lbw b Noman 91
Najmul Hossain lbw b Abbas 101
Mushfiqur Rahim b Shaheen 71
Litton Das c (sub) b Abbas33
Mehidy Hasan c Imam b Abbas10
Taijul Islam c Rizwan b Abbas17
Ebadot Hossain c Rizwan b Abbas0
Taskin Ahmed c Saud b Shaheen28
Nahid Rana not out4

EXTRAS (B-20, LB-8, NB-9)37
TOTAL (all out, 117.1 overs)413
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-18 (Mahmudul), 2-31 (Shadman), 3-201 (Najmul), 4-276 (Mominul), 5-338 (Litton), 6-354 (Mehidy), 7-378 (Taijul), 8-380 (Mushfiqur), 9-384 (Ebadot)
BOWLING: Shaheen 31.1-8-113-3, Abbas 34-8-92-5 (3nb), Hasan 26-5-75-1, Salman 6-0-25-0, Noman 20-0-80-1 (6nb)

PAKISTAN:
Azan Awais not out85
Imam-ul-Haq lbw b Mehidy45
Abdullah Fazal not out37

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, NB-7)12
TOTAL (for one wicket, 46 overs)179
STILL TO BAT: Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas
FALL OF WICKET: 1-106 (Imam)
BOWLING: Taskin 8-0-40-0 (2nb), Ebadot 8-1-38-0 (2nb), Nahid 9-1-47-0 (3nb), Mehidy 16-2-37-1, Taijul 5-0-12-0

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2026