DHAKA, Bangladesh: Emboldened by the return of allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh is ready to finally challenge Pakistan.
The teams will start their second and final cricket test on Saturday. Pakistan won the first by eight wickets and also swept Bangladesh 3-0 in a Twenty20 series before that.
Shakib missed all of those matches with a hamstring injury sustained during the Twenty20 World Cup. He was included into the first test squad but then failed a late fitness test.
“For me, as a captain, everything gets easier when Shakib is around,” Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque said. “Everything is fine with him at this moment. You know he is a player with two in one. He is such a player who can give us the combination we are comfortable with. We now can return to our traditional combination of four bowlers and seven batsmen.”
Mominul, however, is waiting for a fitness report on fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who injured his right hand during the third T20 against Pakistan.
Bangladesh's pace bowling struggled in the first test, claiming only two wickets. Pakistan's fast bowlers had 16 wickets.
“We have to assess his condition tomorrow before the toss," Mominul said of Taskin. "But since New Zealand series is coming up, I don’t think we’ll take any risk with him.”
Bangladesh’s top order faltered in both innings of the first test, being reduced to 49-4 and 39-4, which also played a key role in the loss.
“The first hour of the test cricket is always important but unfortunately our top order collapsed in the first hour in both innings of the first test,” Mominul said. “I think everyone is now aware of how important the first hour is. Our main strength is our batting. We have to bat at least six sessions to put pressure on Pakistan bowlers. We are here to win the game, so we hope we’ll come back strongly.”
Pakistan has won 11 out of 12 matches between the two sides, with one draw.
“We will play the same aggressive brand of cricket that we showed in the first test,” Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi said. “I am enjoying my bowling partnership with Hasan (Ali). We shared the responsibility between us. When Hasan attacked, my job is to contain and when I attack, Hasan has the role of containing. Hopefully we’ll be successful in our strategy again in the second test.”
With Shakib returning, Bangladesh ready to face Pakistan
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With Shakib returning, Bangladesh ready to face Pakistan
- The Bangladeshi allrounder missed the previous matches with a hamstring injury sustained during the T20 World Cup
- The two teams will start their second and final cricket test on Saturday
UN Security Council condemns Islamabad mosque bombing claimed by Daesh
- The Council urges accountability, calls for cooperation with Pakistan
- A suicide bomber targeted the mosque during prayers, killing 32 people
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council said on Friday it condemned a suicide bombing at a mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad that killed at least 32 people, calling the attack “heinous and cowardly” and urging accountability for those responsible.
The blast targeted the Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque and imambargah in the Tarlai Kallan area during Friday prayers on Feb. 6, when mosques across the country were packed with worshippers. Daesh claimed responsibility, saying one of its militants detonated an explosive vest inside the congregation.
In a press statement issued by Council President James Kariuki of the United Kingdom, members of the 15-nation body expressed “deepest sympathy and condolences” to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan.
“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly suicide bombing terrorist attack,” the statement said, reaffirming that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.”
The Council underlined the need to hold “perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors” accountable and urged all states to cooperate actively with the Pakistan government in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Pakistan, which is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2025–2026 term, has faced intense militant violence in recent years, including attacks claimed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army and Daesh affiliates.
The administration in Islamabad said the day after the attack that a police officer was killed and four suspects were arrested in overnight raids in the northwestern cities of Peshawar and Nowshera.
Among those detained was an Afghan national alleged to have worked for Daesh and to have masterminded the bombing, authorities said.
The Security Council reiterated that acts of such militant violence were criminal and unjustifiable regardless of motivation and reaffirmed the need for states to combat threats to international peace and security in line with the UN Charter and international law.
Earlier this week, Pakistani religious scholars also condemned the bombing at a meeting presided over by Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, saying the attack was contrary to Islamic teachings.
