Pakistan v. Bangladesh - Test Series

[Donny]

Umar was out for 43 but Hameed (18 n.o.) supported Hafeez to his century (102 n.o.) and Pakistan to a 9 wicket victory.

Shoaib Akhtar was named Man of the Match for his 10/79.

Some good signs for the Bangers even though they fell apart. It's all part of the learning process.

People will say, again, that it's only Bangladesh but Akhtar's performance was significant.

Only a few weeks back, McGrath, Lee or Gillespie were unable to crash through the Bangladeshis batting like Akhtar did, twice, in this Test.

[Donny]

Saqlain back in Pakistan squad
Wisden Cricinfo staff - August 31, 2003

With Shoaib Akhtar, the most recent member of Test cricket's 100-wicket club, jetting off to Durham, Pakistan have included Saqlain Mushtaq in the 16-member squad for the third Test against Bangladesh. Saqlain last played a Test against South Africa in January, and has been sidelined since the World Cup, where he was relegated to a minor role.

Aamer Sohail, Pakistan's chief selector, said, "Saqlain has been called up from England because Shoaib Akhtar has to rejoin Durham. We wanted to bolster our bowling resources. Saqlain is a champion bowler and his hunger for the game is renewed. We feel now is the right time to bring him back into the team."

Saqlain has 205 wickets from 47 Tests, and though Pakistan have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, there was little or no potency from the slow bowlers at Karachi and Peshawar. His call-up is however a bitter blow for Surrey, who are fighting a grim battle with Sussex for the county championship.

Should Saqlain be retained for the five-match one-day series that follows the Tests, he would miss all of Surrey's remaining championship matches. His chief rival in the spin-bowling stakes, Mushtaq Ahmed, has again be overlooked by the selectors, despite some stellar displays for Sussex this season.

Younis Khan, who missed the first two Tests due to family commitments also retusns, and there are three uncapped players in the 16, from the academy team that toured South Africa. They are Salman Butt, an opener who scored a double-century and a century there, Asim Kamal and Yasir Ali, a fast bowler.

Misbah-ul-Haq and Saeed Bin Nasir have been dropped, while Shoaib Malik has been given time to recover from a groin injury suffered in the second Test.

Pakistan squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Farhan Adil, Salman Butt, Yasir Ali, Asim Kamal, Mohammad

[Donny]

Bangladesh won the toss and batted.

At stumps, they were 6/248 with Bashar (72) topscoring and Saleh again impressing with 49. Omar made 38 and Gul took 3/71.

Saqlain Mushtaq, on his return to the Pakistan Test team, took 1/61.

[Donny]

Bangladesh made 281. Gul took 4/86 and Ahmed, 3/70.

At tea, Pakistan is 5/147. Hameed made 39 and Khan, 34. Mahmud is the destroyer with 4/34.

[Donny]

Now Rafique joins in. He has taken 5/36 from 17.4 overs !!

Pakistan all out for 175.

Bangladesh have a lead of 106. Are they in danger of winning their first Test match ??

[Donny]

This wicket must be failing fast !!

Bangladesh were 3/23 in the 9th. over. Gul had 2/3 and now has 2/24 as the Bangers recovered somewhat to be 3/37 after 12 overs.

[Hired-Goon]

Donny, let me say right now that i could give a lesser shit about cricket...but that is some outstanding coverage!

Kudos to you!

[Donny]

Thanks, HG.

At stumps, the Bangers have fought back to 4/77. They lead by 182 and considering Pakistan couldn't get that many in the first innings, things could get mighty interesting tomorrow.

Saleh (29) and Kapali (17) have a 36 run partnership going.

[Donny]

Bangladesh are 7/121, a lead of 226.

Saleh made 42 and Gul and Ahmed each have 3 wickets.

[Donny]

At lunch, Bangladesh has a lead of 235 with 2 wickets in hand.

Mashud is 23 n.o. and fighting grimly on a crumbling wicket.

Already, the 236 will be difficult to get but another 30 or so will make it extra interesting.

[HAL]

I see.

[Donny]

Bangladesh made 154, a lead of 260.

Gul and Ahmed each took 4 wickets.

Pakistan's first three batsmen were all caught by the substitute fieldsman, Mortaza and when Khan was run out for a duck, they were 4/81 and then 5/99 before Inzamam started hitting a few and with Latif (5) added 33. 6/132 and in trouble.

Can Bangladesh win their first Test match ?

At 6/148, Pakistan are still 113 runs away from their target. It seems only Inzi, on 58 n.o., stands in the Bangers way. Stumps.

[HAL]

Yeah. What about the other ones?

[Donny]

Well, HAL, 6 of them are gone already and they only have 3 bowlers to come.

[HAL]

How are you?