Rawalpindi Test: Bangladesh Undone by Naseem Storm

Day 3 at Rawalpindi was a tale of two halves for Bangladesh, where promise and poise in the morning gave way to chaos and capitulation by the evening. The morning session shone brightly for the visitors, mirroring the crisp sunshine that bathed the ground. Abu Jayed and Ebadat Hossain set the tone with disciplined, probing spells that rattled the Pakistani batting order.

Jayed, in particular, was the architect of control. His unwavering line-and-length in the corridor of uncertainty left the batters guessing. Babar Azam, the overnight anchor, fell prey to Jayed’s persistence, departing without adding to his score. Ebadat then joined the fray, extracting movement off the deck and striking at crucial junctures. After the drinks break, Rubel Hossain chipped in with wickets, his late seam movement proving difficult to negotiate despite the occasional expense.

The standout tactical manoeuvre of the morning was Jayed’s round-the-wicket assault on Haris Sohail. With precision, he targeted the middle and off stumps, creating angles that hinted at movement away or into the batter, depending on the line. This clever adjustment bore the fingerprints of bowling coach Ottis Gibson, whose expertise seemed reminiscent of his work with Stuart Broad in similar situations. Though Sohail counterattacked to swell Pakistan’s lead, the charged-up Bangladeshi bowlers managed to stem the flow and restrict further damage.

Bangladesh’s reply began on a steady note. Nazmul Hossain and Mominul Haque exhibited resilience and maturity, blunting the Pakistani attack with sound technique. Mominul curbed his tendency to flirt with deliveries outside off, while Nazmul’s solid defence suggested a partnership that could anchor the innings. For a while, it seemed Bangladesh had weathered the storm.

But then came the 41st over, and with it, the unravelling. Naseem Shah, the 16-year-old prodigy, delivered a spell that will be etched in Rawalpindi’s cricketing lore. His fourth ball of the over was full and jagged back sharply from wide of the crease, rapping Nazmul on the pads. Though it appeared to be sliding down leg, Azhar Ali’s astute review revealed the ball clipping the stumps. The defiant stand was broken.

The very next delivery, Naseem cranked up the pace, delivering a similar-length ball that proved too much for nightwatchman Taijul Islam. The stumps were shattered, and suddenly, Bangladesh found themselves staring at a hat-trick ball. Enter Mahmudullah Riyad, tasked with stemming the tide. Naseem, brimming with confidence, bowled wide outside off. Mahmudullah’s tentative push, devoid of foot movement, resulted in a straightforward catch at slip. History was made—Naseem Shah became the youngest bowler in Test cricket to claim a hat-trick, a feat not achieved by a Pakistani on home soil since Mohammad Sami in 2002.

The collapse didn’t end there. Mohammad Mithun, in a moment of inexplicable recklessness, attempted a wild shot against Yasir Shah’s zooter, gifting his wicket away. It was a stroke so ill-conceived that even tail-enders would shy away from such audacity in today’s game.

What made this implosion even more disheartening was how it overshadowed the promise shown earlier in the day. Bangladesh’s bowlers had fought valiantly to claw back into the match, and the top order had laid a foundation that hinted at resilience. But cricket is a game of sessions, and by the close of play, the story of Day 3 was one of the squandered opportunities and a young pacer’s moment of brilliance.

Bangladesh’s hard work in the morning was undone in a single over of magic and madness. It was a stark reminder of the fine margins in Test cricket, where moments of brilliance can undo hours of toil.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar