Bangladesh secured a landmark 104-run victory over Pakistan in Mirpur, completing a hat-trick of Test wins against their opponents and continuing a remarkable turnaround in the rivalry.
The defeat marked Pakistan’s first-ever Test loss in Bangladesh. They have now suffered at least one Test defeat in 11 of the 12 countries they have played in, with Ireland remaining the only exception. Only Zimbabwe have lost Tests in more countries.
Bangladesh’s Dominance Continues
This result extended Bangladesh’s winning streak against Pakistan to three consecutive Tests. The hosts had earlier swept Pakistan 2-0 in Rawalpindi in 2024. Prior to this sequence, Bangladesh had failed to win any of their first 13 Tests against Pakistan, recording 12 losses.
Pakistan’s struggles away from home also continued. Their last Test win on the road came in 2023 against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Since then, they have lost all six away Tests, marking their second-longest losing streak overseas after a run of seven defeats between 2018 and 2020.
Declaration and Fourth-Innings Struggles
Bangladesh declared their second innings in Mirpur with a lead of 267. Only two teams have previously won a Test after declaring with a smaller fourth-day lead in a five-day match. New Zealand declared with a 262-run lead against Sri Lanka in Kandy in 1984 and won by 165 runs, while Pakistan led Zimbabwe by 265 before declaring in Karachi in 1993 and went on to win by 131 runs.
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Pakistan’s fourth-innings total of 163 was their second-lowest against Bangladesh in Tests. Their lowest remains 146 all out, recorded during the 2024 series in Rawalpindi.
Individual Milestones and Records
Nahid Rana became only the second Bangladesh fast bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in a home Test. Shahadat Hossain had previously taken three such hauls between 2006 and 2010.
Pakistan produced three century partnerships in their first innings, yet still ended up on the losing side. This has happened only four times previously in Test history, with the most recent instance occurring in 2008 when India lost to Australia at the SCG.
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Najmul Hossain Shanto set a new record as Bangladesh captain by registering his fifth Test century, surpassing Mushfiqur Rahim’s tally of four. He also shared stands of 170 and 105 with Mominul Haque, making them only the third Bangladesh pair to record two century partnerships in a Test.
Noman Ali, aged 39 years and 213 days at the start of the Mirpur Test, became the oldest player to reach 100 Test wickets. The previous record belonged to England’s Bobby Peel, who was 39 years and 180 days old at the start of his final Test in 1896.
Abdullah Fazal also made a notable debut, becoming the sixth Pakistan batter to score fifty or more in both innings of a Test match.
Rare Feats on Debut
Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal formed one of only two pairs of debutants to register 50-plus partnerships in both innings of a men’s Test. The duo added 104 runs in the first innings and 54 in the second in Mirpur. The only previous instance came in 1934, when India’s Dilawar Hussain and CS Nayudu recorded partnerships of 53 and 52 against England at Eden Gardens.
