Najmul Hossain Shanto paid rich tribute to his fast bowlers after Bangladesh clinched a memorable 104-run victory over Pakistan in the opening Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, a triumph that also saw him script a leadership milestone.
Bangladesh declared their second innings on 240-9 to set Pakistan a target of 268, a bold call considering the lead stood at 267. Shanto said the move was driven by unwavering belief in his pace attack, led by Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed.
“We were clear about our intent. At times, you have to be brave, and we trusted our bowling unit,” Shanto said after the match.
The decision paid off handsomely as Pakistan were dismissed for 163 on the final day. Nahid unleashed a fiery spell to rattle the visitors, while Taskin’s sharp burst after tea decisively tilted the contest in Bangladesh’s favour.
No team had previously chased more than 209 at the Mirpur venue, and Bangladesh’s bowlers ensured that record remained intact. Shanto also highlighted Nahid’s resilience after being struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first innings, only to later dismiss the Pakistan pacer in the second — a symbolic moment in a fiercely contested match.
The skipper emphasized that settling for a draw was never an option, even when Pakistan looked steady during the chase. According to him, Bangladesh’s growing fast-bowling depth has transformed their approach to Test cricket.
Though Shanto himself contributed 101 and 87 in the match, he admitted he could have done more, suggesting a bigger score was within reach.
The victory marked Bangladesh’s third successive Test win over Pakistan, following their 2-0 series sweep in Rawalpindi in 2024, and provided a confident start to the new World Test Championship cycle.
Individually, the win was historic. It was Shanto’s seventh Test victory as captain in just 17 matches, making him the fastest Bangladesh skipper to reach the milestone. He eclipsed Mushfiqur Rahim, who needed 34 Tests to register seven wins.
With seven victories and a draw already under his leadership, Shanto now holds the best success rate among Bangladesh captains who have led the side in more than one Test, underlining a promising new chapter in the team’s red-ball journey.
