RAWALPINDI: Pacemen Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana shared nine wickets on Monday to set Bangladesh on course for victory over Pakistan before rain stopped play on the fourth day of the second Test.
Hasan took 5-43 while Nahid added 4-44 — both career-best figures — in dismissing Pakistan for 172 in their second innings and giving the visitors a target of 185 to secure a 2-0 series win in Rawalpindi.
Openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam raced to 42 without loss — with Zakir hitting two sixes and two boundaries — before rain clouds gathered and bad light suspended play one over after the tea break.
Bangladesh lead the two-match series 1-0 after a surprise win in Rawalpindi last month, their first in 14 tests against Pakistan.
They have only won two series away from home — against the West Indies in 2009 and Zimbabwe in 2021 — and need another 143 runs on the final day on Tuesday to secure victory.
Pakistan had been 117-6 at lunch, with Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha fighting to save the hosts’ blushes before Hasan ended their 55-run stand.
He had Rizwan caught behind for 43 and had Mohammad Ali caught in the slips on the next ball for a golden duck to leave Pakistan teetering on 136-8.
Salman, who top-scored with 47, added 27 for the last wicket with Mir Hamza before Hasan wrapped up the innings with his fifth wicket, getting Hamza caught in the slip.
The morning session belonged to 21-year-old Nahid, who dismissed Shan Masood (28), Babar Azam (11) and Saud Shakeel (two) in a spell of express bowling.
The rain-affected Test saw Friday’s first day’s play washed out and then a remarkable fightback by Bangladesh on Sunday.
The visitors were 26-6 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings 274 before Liton Das (138) put together a seventh-wicket partnership of 165 with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (78) that enabled Bangladesh to reach 262.
Pakistan took their overnight score of 9-2 to 47-2 in 10 overs on Monday before Bangladesh broke through with a spell of three wickets for 18 runs.
Saim Ayub fell for 20 to a brilliant catch by Najmul Hossain at mid-off as the opener failed to keep down a drive off fast bowler Taskin Ahmed.
Nahid then had Pakistan skipper Masood caught behind by Liton off a wild shot before getting the prized wicket of Azam, caught at slip off a sharp delivery in his next over.
Nahid grabbed his third by dismissing Shakeel and went to lunch with figures of 3-22 off five overs.
Rain halts Bangladesh victory bid after Hasan, Nahid demolish Pakistan
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Rain halts Bangladesh victory bid after Hasan, Nahid demolish Pakistan
- Hasan took 5-43 while Nahid added 4-44, both career-best figures, in dismissing Pakistan for 172 in second innings
- Openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam raced to 42 without loss, with Zakir hitting two sixes and two boundaries
Pakistan concludes 60-hour joint military exercise featuring 19 states, including Saudi Arabia, US
- Exercise also featured participation from Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar, says military’s media wing
- Says exercise is designed to enhance professional military skills through exchange of innovative ideas, tactical experiences
ISLAMABAD: A 60-hour-long joint military exercise organized by Pakistan’s army concluded this week at the eastern city of Kharian, featuring participation from 19 countries including Saudi Arabia and the US, the military’s media wing said.
The 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition is a 60-hour-long patrolling exercise, which the Pakistani military says is designed to enhance professional military skills through the exchange of innovative ideas, tactical experiences and best practices among participating teams.
The exercise was held from Feb. 5-9 in the semi-mountainous terrains of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, providing participants a “realistic and challenging operational environment.” Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the closing ceremony of the exercise on Monday and presented awards to participants.
“Over the years, PATS has evolved into a prestigious and highly competitive military exercise, recognized for promoting professional excellence and mutual learning among participating nations,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“The forum continues to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and understanding, while fostering camaraderie and team spirit in a demanding operational setting.”
This year’s exercise featured participants from 19 countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, USA and Uzbekistan, the ISPR said.
Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand attended the exercise as observers while 16 domestic teams from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy, along with observers from the Pakistan Air Force also participated in the event.
Munir appreciated participating teams for their “exceptional professionalism, physical and mental endurance, operational competence and high morale” displayed during the exercise, the military’s media wing said.
“He emphasized the importance of such multinational engagements in enhancing collective preparedness and adapting to the evolving character of modern warfare,” the ISPR added.
Pakistan routinely holds joint air, ground and sea exercises with regional countries and traditional allies to foster interoperability to counter threats to global peace.
