Pakistan Completes Clean Sweep with win in Dhaka Test

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur, 5th day

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran

December 21, 2011

Pakistan 470 (Taufeeq 130, Misbah 70, Azhar 57, Akmal 53, Shakib 6-82) and 107 for 3 beat Bangladesh 338 (Shakib 144, Nafees 97) and 234 (Nasir 79, Mushfiqur 53, Rehman 4-51) by seven wickets

Pakistan capped off a fruitful year in cricket by completing a clean sweep against Bangladesh in Mirpur on a drama-filled day that showcased the unpredictability of Test cricket.

In the first session, Nasir Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim batted sensibly, not especially worried about the runs which they were collecting, making the draw seem the likeliest result. In the second, a combination of kamikaze batting and smart spin bowling resulted in Bangladesh losing their final five wickets for 22 runs, leaving Pakistan the seemingly straightforward target of 103. It wasn't though, as Pakistan faced a race against the fading light in the final session, and needed some intrepid batting to secure the victory in the gloom.

There was a helping hand from the weather for Bangladesh early on, as the usual morning fog delayed the start by an hour and a half. Bangladesh's batting has posted 250 in both innings of a Test only four times in the past seven years, and as play began the worry was the home side would fold on a fifth-day track, particularly against Pakistan's versatile spin attack.

Those fears were quelled in the morning as Nasir went on to his maiden half-century while Mushfiqur made his second important contribution with the bat as the pair put on a century stand. After lunch, though, Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal bamboozled the lower order to revive fading Pakistan hopes of a victory.

It was Rehman who did the major damage after the interval. Nasir was hoodwinked by a straighter delivery that beat the bat and crashed into the stumps to end the partnership at 117. Bangladesh still had plenty of reasons to hope: the lead was already 80, Mushfiqur was set and nearing his half-century, the new batsman Elias Sunny had a first-class high score of 176, and the light usually fades well before the scheduled close of play.

Those hopes pretty much evaporated after a wild stroke from Mushfiqur, who charged out and looked to send a Rehman delivery out of the ground, only managing to top edge it towards mid-off. How Mushfiqur can lecture his team-mates about batting responsibly after this shot remains to be seen.

Bangladesh's slide continued thanks to a moment of magic from Younis Khan at slip, which seemed even more spectacular given the number of simple chances that have been put down in the match. It extended Shahadat Hossain's forgettable Test as he attempted a reckless swipe across the line, getting a thick edge which was seemingly flying well wide of first slip. Younis, though, threw himself to his right goalkeeper-style to snaffle it one-handed. Saeed Ajmal then captured the final two victims to take his tally for the year to 50.

In contrast to the helter-skelter batting after lunch, Nasir and Mushfiqur had been level-headed in seeing off the bowling in the morning. Chances fell short, flew wide and soared over slip but Pakistan were unable to make the breakthrough, as both batsmen also played some powerful shots behind point. In the fourth over of the day, Nasir edged an attempted drive just past second slip, but that didn't stop him from a vigorous upper cut over gully for four off the next delivery.

Once the fast bowlers were seen off, Ajmal and Rehman dried up the runs with an accurate spell of bowling. A five-over stretch that yielded only one run was finally snapped by the inevitable big stroke, but Nasir managed to swat it wide of the diving midwicket fielder to pick up a boundary.

Both Nasir and Mushfiqur showed a defensive technique that was mostly watertight, and Pakistan had to turn to their secondary spinners, Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali. A whip to midwicket for four off Ali brought up the hundred stand five minutes before lunch, and Bangladesh were looking forward to escaping with a draw before a depressingly familiar collapse followed.

In this Test, Shakib Al Hasan already had the highest score and the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi against Pakistan, but he could still have made his most important contribution during the chase. It was getting murky early in the afternoon, and the floodlights were on as early as 3pm - a series of tight overs could have been enough to conjure a face-saving draw. He bowled through the innings but it was a task too tough even for him.

Pakistan had a stretch of 24 dot balls early on, and Taufeeq Umar was dismissed cheaply, but Mohammad Hafeez then took over, expertly pulling the barrage of short balls from the medium-pacers. With Azhar Ali working the singles, Pakistan galloped towards victory even as the light faded. Both Hafeez and Azhar were dismissed with the win in sight, but that only brought in the senior batsmen, Man-of-the-Series Younis Khan and captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who stylishly completed the victory with a six over long-off.

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No Excuse For Bangladesh's Fielding - Law

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur, 4th day

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 20, 2011

Stuart Law, Bangladesh's coach, has demanded higher standards from his fielders after a series of dropped catches left the team struggling to save the second Test against Pakistan in Mirpur.

"We are under pressure from Pakistan's performance; when you're dropping good players, you're giving them two chances at bat," he said. "There's no excuse, there are no 38-year-olds [in the Bangladesh team] running out there. They are all in their mid-twenties. Young men should be fighting fit for four to five days.

"That is an area of concern for us. I think our bowlers did well and created enough opportunities. It's not a practice thing. We practice till hands are sore."

On the fourth day, Bangladesh put down three catches - Robiul Islam shelled a simple chance at mid-on, Mahmudullah dropped another at slip and Sunny one at midwicket - as Pakistan went on to take a lead of 132 and then knock over five Bangladesh wickets with the hosts still in the deficit.

However, Law has confidence that Bangladesh can still draw the game. "If the two at the crease [Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hossain] can bat, we can [secure a draw]. If we can bat 2-2.5 sessions, I believe we can."

Bangladesh had lost wickets in a hurry, after making up a commendable 338 in the first innings, with some of their batsmen - Mahmudullah in particular - playing questionable strokes. That shot, Law said, stemmed from the fact that Bangladesh play more one-day cricket.

"I've spoken to him [Mahmudullah] about that. It comes from being a one-day cricketer. We don't play a lot of Tests. It's okay if you play that shot when you chase eight or nine an over but in a Test match, when you're looking to save the Test, it's not the right option. We need to play more of long format of the game, as a team."

Bangladesh were set back by a double-strike from Umar Gul that accounted for Tamim Iqbal and Shahriar Nafees on the stroke of tea. Both batsmen, though, received rough umpiring decisions in a series where the DRS isn't available.

"They [the umpires] have the most difficult out there," Law said. "It's not the decisions, but the timings of them. Just before tea to lose two wickets in two balls to decisions that we felt were quite questionable. It's a massive kick in the guts.

"It's just a great reminder to everybody that this DRS is something that as a team [we could use]. A lot of talk about us fighting for survival in the international scene. If decisions don't go our way, and there seem to be quite a few, it makes our job that much more difficult."

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez said his bowlers had put the team in a fine position. "Our bowlers have worked very hard and have taken five wickets today. The new ball was doing a bit. We are in a position where we can put pressure on the Bangladesh batsmen and we are very much on track [to win the Test]."

Hafeez also appreciated Shakib Al Hasan's effort - the allrounder followed up his century with six-wicket haul. "Shakib's performance was great. I think he was under some pressure for not scoring in the ODIs. He came out with a strategy and executed it well.

"He bowled really well after scoring the hundred, which is something special. He is doing a wonderful job for Bangladesh."

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Pakistan on Course Despite Shakib’s Six-For on Day 4 of 2nd Test

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur, 4th day

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran

December 20, 2011

Bangladesh 338 and 114 for 5 trail Pakistan 470 (Taufeeq 130, Misbah 70, Azhar 57, Akmal 53, Shakib 6-82) by 18 runs

Shakib Al Hasan became the first Bangladesh player to score a hundred and take a five-for in the same Test, but that wasn't enough to stop Pakistan from taking charge of the second Test in Mirpur. Shakib's importance to the outcome of the match was highlighted by Pakistan's jubilant reaction to his dismissal late in the day - in the exuberance of the celebration, Younis Khan was pushed over by one of his team-mates.

Pakistan's batsmen made unrelenting progress in the first half of the day - Adnan Akmal reached his maiden Test half-century and Misbah-ul-Haq completed his seventh Test fifty of the year to stretch the first-innings lead to a healthy 132. In contrast, the Bangladesh batting's perennial struggle to put up strong performances in both innings of a Test continued, and they slid to 114 for 5 by close.

It was a typical beginning to the innings. Tamim Iqbal started as though it was a Twenty20, cracking five boundaries in his 21 before falling in the final over before tea. It was a dodgy decision as he was ruled out after the ball ricocheted off his helmet to slip. He stood around making his displeasure clear, and pointing to the helmet to indicate where the ball hit him, actions which are likely to earn him a meeting with the match referee.

To make it worse, off the next ball, Umar Gul removed Shahriar Nafees lbw for a golden duck to spark thoughts of a familiar top order collapse. Like the light in Mirpur, Bangladesh's chances also began to fade early.

Gul got the new ball to jag around, and though he couldn't complete the hat-trick after tea, he thoroughly examined the batsmen's technique outside off. Aizaz Cheema wasn't as incisive early on, but returned to take two big wickets - Mahmudullah and Shakib. Both dismissals were due to a long-standing problem with the Bangladesh batting - poor shot selection. Mahmudullah looked to flatbat a delivery that was well outside off, top edging it to deep point and Shakib steered a catch to backward point.

One of the other reasons for the home side's troubles at the Test level is the lack of quality medium-pacers, and they were unimpressive again on the fourth morning. That prompted Mushfiqur Rahim to give marathon spells to the left-arm spin pair of Elias Sunny and Shakib. Sunny bowled through the entire morning session, while Shakib had sent down a 23-over spell by the time Pakistan's innings ended.

Comfortably placed at 292 for 3 overnight, Pakistan were expected to be more adventurous on the fourth morning to set up a declaration, but the dismissal of Younis in the second over of the day led to a more measured approach. Sunny struck in his first over, getting the ball to jump and turn, and Younis nicked it to the wicketkeeper as he looked to defend.

Neither Misbah nor Asad Shafiq are known for an aggressive brand of batting, and there was plenty of caution in their partnership early on. Only three runs were scored in the first seven overs of the day, before Misbah broke free with a couple of boundaries in a Nazmul Hossain over. Shafiq also got going with consecutive fours off Shahadat Hossain, but once Sunny and Shakib started to bowl in tandem, the run flow subsided again.

Misbah, to his credit, attempted to push the tempo with an array of sweeps - delicate paddles from outside off, reverse-sweeps and powerful conventional ones to try and throw the spinners' off their line and length. The partnership swelled past 50, before Shakib finally had reward for his tight bowling - Misbah falling to the sweep, top-edging to slip.

The Bangladesh fielding was again below par: Robiul Islam shelled a simple chance at mid-on, Mahmudullah dropped another at slip and there was another let down at midwicket by Sunny.

Bangladesh's spirits were lifted when Shafiq was given a tight lbw appeal, but Abdur Rehman and Akmal played a series of strokes to take the lead close to 100. Rehman then fell to a catch at slip, and the rest of the tail was mopped up by Shakib.

As if a century to rescue the team from 43 for 4, and then scooping up six wickets wasn't enough, Shakib was expected to prop Bangladesh up with the bat in the second innings as well. He wasn't able to, leaving Bangladesh needing something of a miracle to save the Test on a track where Pakistan's potent spin attack was getting plenty of help.

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Taufeeq Defends Pakistan's Cautious Batting

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur, 3rd day

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 19, 2011

Taufeeq Umar, the Pakistan batsman, defended his side's cautious batting approach on the third day of the Mirpur Test, saying that the plan was to first get close to Bangladesh's 338 without losing too many wickets. "I think we were on the back foot [initially] and we would have been in deeper trouble had we lost two, three early wickets," Taufeeq said. "We wanted to get closer to the [Bangladesh] runs and then see how it stands.

"We wanted to stay at the wicket and wait for the bad deliveries. I think we were quite successful. Now we are in a good position and we will accelerate tomorrow and see how the things are going."

The safety-first batting strategy has worked well for Pakistan so far as they have won five out of nine Test matches this year. Taufeeq, whose patient accumulation at the top of the order has characterised this approach, made 130 today, his third century in 2011. He has made 828 runs this year, the most by a Pakistan batsman in 2011.

Taufeeq said that his batting style was dictated by the instructions of the team management. "It all depends on what the team needs from you. If the captain and the coach say that you have to survive the new ball and then play shots, you have to do that."

He also said that while every Test hundred was important, the 236 that he made against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi earlier this year stood out for him. "I scored a double hundred against Sri Lanka and that was very special because I had not made a double hundred before. I think that century [104 against Bangladesh in Multan in 2001] was the best one because that was on my debut and I will always remember that century."

With only two days left in the game which has been affected by fog and bad light, Taufeeq maintained that Pakistan still had time to force a result. "Definitely we have got two days to go but it all depends on the weather. I still believe we have a chance. We have a world-class bowling attack that can bowl out any side if they get two sessions. If we can take a good lead we will try our best to win this game."

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Taufeeq’s Century Leads Pakistan’s Strong Reply

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur, 3rd day

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran

December 19, 2011

Pakistan 292 for 3 (Taufeeq 130, Azhar 57) trail Bangladesh 338 by 46 runs

Sandwiched between the familiar Mirpur problems of morning fog and fading light in the evening, Pakistan gave another demonstration of the batting solidity that has characterised their cricket in 2011. Taufeeq Umar added another century to his already rich haul this year, and aided by several middle-order contributions and butter-fingers from Bangladesh, cut the deficit to 46 runs.

The flamboyance of old may be missing - Pakistan rarely looked interested in pushing the tempo for much of the day - but the safety-first batting has served them well this year. Bangladesh's attack was mostly pedestrian, and it was only with the second new ball that there was a sustained period of hostility.

In the curtailed morning session, Taufeeq and Azhar Ali blunted the bowling as they stretched the partnership beyond 100. The only real chance of a wicket before lunch was when Taufeeq missed a delivery from Shakib Al Hasan that spun down the leg side in the 36th over. Mushfiqur Rahim collected the ball, and was so certain of the caught-behind that he vociferously appealed without bothering to try stumping Taufeeq who had advanced down the track.

The day began with a 11-run over from Shahadat Hossain, but the scoring-rate returned to staid Test match levels after that. It was risk-free batting from both Taufeeq and Azhar, who were supremely patient at most times, but cashed in on the regular poor delivery. Taufeeq was very good on the cut, scoring heavily around point, while many of Azhar's boundaries were off drives, including a classic past extra cover that took him to fifty.

The track was providing little assistance to the quicks, and to make matters worse, in the first over after lunch, Nazimuddin shelled a sitter at gully to reprieve Taufeeq. Luckily for Bangladesh, Shakib got one to spin sharply away, taking Azhar's outside edge on the way to the keeper. Azhar, at ease against pace, wasn't at his most assured against spin, and his dismissal for 57 meant he has only one century despite 12 fifties.

Taufeeq was unperturbed, continuing to grind the bowling even as Younis Khan took his time to settle in. The cut continued to bring in plenty of runs, there was a risky paddle for four off Shakib and an authoritative swat to midwicket off Mahmudullah. The century came up with a slap behind point for four, after which Taufeeq unleashed a bunch of off-side boundaries.

Bangladesh's spirits were sapped further when both Younis and Taufeeq were given lives in the first two overs after tea - Younis put down at deep midwicket by Shahadat Hossain, while Taufeeq offered a tough bat-pad chance that Shahriar Nafees couldn't latch on at short leg.

They didn't have to wait too long for the second new ball, though, and that transformed the attack. Nazmul Hossain was outstanding as he got the ball to seam around, and thoroughly tested Younis' technique outside off before getting Taufeeq to nick to slip.

The batting hadn't exactly been in top gear all innings, and more enterprise was necessary if Pakistan were to aim for a victory. Even as the light faded, Younis and Misbah didn't go into a shell, picking off the boundaries as the quick bowlers overdosed on the short ball. Their partnership raised 47 at a decidedly brisk 3.76 before play was called off with Pakistan closing in on 300. They will need more quick runs on Tuesday if they are to set up a big total that could put the traditionally fragile Bangladesh batting under pressure for the remainder of the Test.

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Pakistan Solid in Reply To Leave Test Evenly Poised

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur, 2nd day

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran

December 18, 2011

Pakistan 87 for 1 (Taufeeq 44*, Azhar 26*) trail Bangladesh 338 (Shakib 144, Shahriar 97) by 251 runs

Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim frustrated Pakistan in a truncated morning session, but the visitors levelled the game over the next two sessions. Bangladesh's fragility was once again on display after lunch, as the final five wickets went down for 33 runs after which Pakistan's top order responded strongly.

Until the Bangladesh lower-order collapse in the afternoon, the only impediment to the home side's progress had been the fog in Mirpur, which wiped out an hour's play. Shakib and Mushfiqur crafted a slow-and-steady stand once it cleared, to give the small but vocal crowd something to cheer about on a chilly morning.

Shakib made his highest first-class score and was headed for Bangladesh's record individual Test effort when he was run-out. Mushfiqur took a few quick steps before stopping and sending Shakib back, but a direct hit from Taufeeq Umar, running in from mid-on, was enough to snap the partnership at 82. Shakib walked off, after several glares at his captain over the poor calling.

Whether that had an effect on Mushfiqur is hard to tell, but the very next delivery, he gloved a catch down the leg side to the wicketkeeper which left two new lower-order batsmen at the crease, and Pakistan sniffing a quick end to the innings. Elias Sunny and Shahadat Hossain rode their luck in a brief, entertaining stand - Sunny survived as an Umar Gul delivery kissed off stump without disturbing the bails, and Shahadat was put down by Abdur Rehman at deep midwicket.

The innings ended in a hurry, though, as Saeed Ajmal's doosra proved too much for the tailenders, and a run-out curtailed Nazmul Hossain's first Test knock in seven years to a single delivery.

In contrast, Pakistan had little to celebrate in the morning. There was little movement on offer for the quick bowlers and even with the second new ball Gul and Aizaz Cheema couldn't get any major deviation. With the old ball, Pakistan's dangerous spin pair of Ajmal and Rehman got some turn, but were blunted by Shakib and Mushfiqur.

Shakib hit only one boundary in the first session, and survived several lbw calls and an outside edge that landed short of slip. While he was circumspect, Mushfiqur was more enterprising. There was a powerful swipe over midwicket for six off Ajmal, and he picked up several boundaries with his favoured cut shot. They took Bangladesh past 300 in Tests for only the second time since May 2010, but their back-to-back dismissals restricted the innings to a far lower score than expected.

There was something to buoy the home side as they went in for tea. They removed Mohammad Hafeez, who has had a great run in 2011, including a big century in the previous Test. He had begun ominously, swatting consecutive boundaries in the third over, but nicked Nazmul's first ball in Tests in seven years, to be dismissed for 14.

Bangladesh's bowlers gifted easy runs till late in the final session, when the spinners Shakib and Mahmudullah kept the batsmen in check. There was an early close call for Azhar Ali, who unwisely shouldered arms to a delivery that nipped in from Robiul, narrowly avoiding a supremely confident shout for lbw. He wasn't at his most assured against the spinners either, beaten several times by the big turn Shakib was extracting, and once edging just wide of the slips.

Taufeeq Umar was more confident, initially capitalising on the loose deliveries on offer. There were plenty of cuts and drives as he picked up eight boundaries on his way to 44, before bad light expectedly ended play an hour early. There's still plenty of work to do for the Pakistan batting but with their increasingly reliable middle order, they will fancy their chances of overhauling Bangladesh's total.

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Had To Work Really Hard For This Century - Shakib

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur, 2nd day

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur

December 18, 2011

It was ironical that a run-out ended Shakib Al Hasan's innings that was so solidly built on patience and thinking on his feet. The left-hander made 144 in nearly six hours that spanned five sessions, two of which went wicketless. But instead of focusing on how it all ended, a DVD of this innings would be worth it for the sheer quality of the innings.

When Mushfiqur Rahim tucked Umar Gul off his hips into the vacant midwicket area, there was a single for the taking. But the captain took a few steps forward and called late, leading to hesitation and by the time Shakib turned back, Taufeeq Umar broken the stumps with a direct hit. The error was Mushfiqur's and Shakib's reaction was a natural expression of a man who had battled the conditions and the opponents.

"Nobody wants to get out like that so I am slightly disappointed, but I am happy with the runs I have scored," Shakib said. "Run-out is also part of the game, it happens."

This was the fifth longest stint at the crease by a Bangladesh batsman, and easily Shakib's longest innings. Most of those in front of him in this list were picked and recognised for their ability to bat long. His only other Test century came in the second innings against New Zealand in 2010, a three-hour knock that was on par with most Test hundreds in terms of time. However, this knock in Mirpur began on the first day and he knew that one mistake could prove costly for the entire team.

"I would keep this century ahead of the other one. I had to work really hard for this. I batted with the tail-enders in Hamilton and the situation was different there," Shakib said.

"The first century is always special but this one's the most satisfying, I had phases when I had to check my shots. I have batted a long time for this century," said Shakib, whose ability to pick singles (63, more than half the team's 118) was another lesson for his team-mates.

Of the 15 boundaries during the 242-ball innings, Shakib hit just one on the second day. Perhaps the situation and the bowling attack was taken into consideration, but he let Mushfiqur find his feet during their 82-run sixth wicket stand. They batted out the shortened first session of 21 overs without fuss.

For the past two years, Bangladesh had lost a wicket when they were nearing a break. But in two days, they had as many wicket-less sessions, thereby reversing the trend. The last session of the first day and the first on the next is often critical for Bangladesh when they bat first and make a good start.

Shakib mentioned how the team has had to start "all over again" due to the long breaks between Test series.

"I don't think we are going backwards. The trouble is when we get to play Tests after long breaks," Shakib said. "We have to start everything anew when we play Tests after 2-3 months. It takes an innings or two to understand the situation.

"If we could play regularly, it wouldn't be a problem. You can see that we played Tests regularly before taking the 14-month break. Our performance was better at that time." Shakib regretted not carrying on during the second day, and the thought of a possible double-century crossed his mind.

"If I say I don't have it [regrets] I would be wrong. But I didn't target that I have to score X number of runs. I wanted to bat as long as possible. If I could have batted all day, I would have gotten the double-century," he said.

But Shakib is a hard man to impress. When asked if Bangladesh had gotten rid of their mental block after their vastly improved first-innings performance, he said that he would talk about it after the second innings.

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Shakib and Nafees Lead Bangladesh Recovery

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur, 1st day

The Report by Abhishek Purohit

December 17, 2011

Bangladesh 234 for 5 (Shakib 108*, Nafees 97, Cheema 3-52) v Pakistan

Shakib Al Hasan and Shahriar Nafees showed that it was possible for Bangladesh batsmen to play shots without throwing their wickets away, with the country's first century partnership in Tests since June 2010. The duo batted for almost two sessions to rescue Bangladesh from what had looked set to be yet another low total, after Aizaz Cheema had reduced them to 43 for 4 in helpful morning conditions.

At no stage in their partnership were Shakib and Nafees subdued, and without doing anything reckless, put on 180 at more than three-and-a-half runs an over. Though the Mirpur track eased out completely after seaming around in the first session, Bangladesh had caved in for 135 on a flat Chittagong surface a week ago. With their Test status being called into question by some, they had everything to prove. Shakib and Nafees showed that there was more to Bangladesh cricket than a large and fanatical fan following.

Fog and dew had delayed the start by 75 minutes but also encouraged Misbah-ul-Haq to ask the under-pressure Bangladesh batsmen to face his fast bowlers - although Pakistan went in with only two of them as against Bangladesh's three. Cheema's morning spell read 8-2-18-3 but Shakib ensured he was kept out of the attack for most of the second session, hitting him for three fours in four deliveries soon after lunch.

Shakib's aggression forced Misbah to turn to his spinners but there was not much help for them from a pitch that had now revealed itself to be a typical flat first-day subcontinent pitch. Shakib continued to play positively against Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, working them on the leg side, and driving and punching through extra cover. A back-foot punch off Ajmal brought up his 50 and he stepped out next ball to caress a flighted delivery to the extra-cover boundary to bring up the century partnership - Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes were involved in the previous one in Manchester, against England in June 2010.

Nafees had earlier showed his team-mates the way to play the fast bowlers on a surface that was aiding seam in the morning. Wary of edging angled deliveries to the four slips, Nafees aimed to play straight as much as he could. Though that meant letting go of a few scoring opportunities, he went hard when he was given width and pulled with panache. Nafees hammered Umar Gul's first delivery of his second spell through extra cover to reach his third 50 after his return to the Test side in August.

Going against the propensity of Bangladesh batsmen to implode after reaching half-centuries, both batsmen continued in the same vein after getting to their landmarks. With the light fading in the Dhaka winter, Shakib cut Gul for two boundaries in an over to move to 99 and brought the appreciative crowd to its feet with a characteristic chop through point to reach his second Test hundred. Nafees clattered Ajmal through extra cover to move to 97 but Gul sent down an accurate bouncer in his next over to have him gloving it to the wicketkeeper. By then, though, Bangladesh had restored their pride, and Pakistan had looked clueless for the first time in three weeks on this tour.

Things had looked almost predictably bleak for Bangladesh in the morning after Cheema, especially, and Gul were relentless in exposing the hosts' frailties. Getting sharp seam movement, Cheema had Nazimuddin padding up in his first over, though everyone except umpire Shavir Tarapore thought that the bounce would have taken the ball over the stumps.

Gul did not get the kind of movement off the pitch that Cheema managed, and in the absence of swing, he had to rely on his accuracy and the element of surprise. After Tamim Iqbal had tentatively survived against several pitched-up deliveries, Gul dug in the bouncer in his fourth over. Tamim did what Tamim does, and the top-edged hook was taken safely by Cheema at fine leg.

With Bangladesh bringing in a fast bowler at the expense of Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah was given a promotion in the batting order to No. 4. It didn't work, as Cheema rattled Mahmudullah's stumps first ball with one that nipped in between bat and pad.

Nasir Hossain, who had batted as low as No. 8 in the first innings in Chittagong, was sent in at 21 for 3. He looked thoroughly uncomfortable initially, stabbing and getting beaten as the ball jagged around. Another prod at an away-going Cheema delivery produced the edge and ended in the gloves of Adnan Akmal to make it 43 for 4. Another Test involving Bangladesh could have been decided by the first innings, but for Nafees and Shakib.

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Pakistan seek Dominating End To The Year

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya

December 16, 2011

Match facts
Saturday, December 17
Start time 09:30 (03:30 GMT)

Big Picture

Bangladesh's abject performance, their status as a Test-playing nation, the need for their players to play more first-class cricket at home as well as against Associate countries to compete better at the highest level, their excessive reliance on a couple of individuals and their reckless batting dominated talk during yet another capitulation in the first Test in Chittagong.

On the same day a revitalised New Zealand pulled off one of their most famous wins, beating Australia by seven runs in a thrilling encounter in Hobart, Bangladesh plunged to another predictable defeat, another innings loss that took their horror run to 10 defeats in 11 Tests. While increasing criticism is something Bangladesh have been at the receiving end of for quite some time, a simultaneous decline in sympathy for their limitations, their results and quality of cricket will be tougher to bear.

Their opponents, on the other hand, have achieved what they expected out of this tour so far. Leading up to a much-awaited series against England in 'home conditions' in the UAE, Pakistan have been dominating and clinical, sweeping the limited-overs games and being ruthless in a Test that had several notable individual achievements. Asad Shafiq notched up his first international century after promising to reach that landmark on more than a few occasions previously; Abdur Rehman settled in nicely in just his second game of the tour, picking up seven wickets; Younis Khan eased to another double-century and Mohammad Hafeez continued a stellar year.

In their final game of 2011, a year of contrasting fortunes for both teams, one emerging strong on the field from the spot-fixing saga and disciplinary issues, and the other seemingly sinking to the abyss after the World Cup, expect another strong show for Pakistan, while Bangladesh will hoping to salvage some pride, if nothing else.

Form guide

Bangladesh: LLDLL
Pakistan: WDWDW

Players to watch out for...

Nazimuddin had a memorable Test debut, making 78 in the second innings. As his partners were failing to preserve their wickets, their impatience and lack of determination glaringly on display, Nazimuddin fought hard in conditions that favoured spinners. His resistance stood out, and offered plenty of promise for a team facing serious problems with its batting.

Azhar Ali scored his maiden Test ton in his 28th innings, against Sri Lanka in the UAE, after a run of consistent performances in the top order. Pakistan have been grooming him as a Test specialist at No.3. He's solid, has sound technique and has delivered against tougher bowling attacks. He'll feel he missed out against Bangladesh in the opening Test, making 26 while the others cashed in, and ahead of the England series he'll strive for a bigger score.

Team news

Mohammad Ashraful practiced with the team ahead of this Test, stayed in the same hotel and was, according to the coach Stuart Clark, part of the squad before the BCB finally confirmed he was dropped. The late announcement, captain Mushfiqur Rahim said, is something his side had become used to. They've replaced him with Shafiul Islam, a seamer. He'll take Rubel Hossain's place; Rubel injured his right shoulder in Chittagong. Naeem Islam missed the first Test due to illness, but should take Ashraful's place if fit.

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Nazimuddin, 3 Shahriar Nafees, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt and wk), 5 Naeem Islam, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Mahmudullah, 9 Elias Sunny, 10 Shahadat Hossain, 11 Shafiul Islam.

Pakistan have two reserve seamers in Mohammad Khalil and Mohammad Talha, but it remains to be seen if either of them is given a go.

Pakistan: 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Adnan Akmal (wk), 8 Abdur Rehman, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema.

Pitch and conditions

The weather forecast is encouraging with sunny skies predicted for the next five days. The track in Mirpur has traditionally favoured turn and bounce, something the spin-strong attacks from either team won't mind. Batting first has been the way to go for the most part here.

Stats and trivia

Nazimuddin became the 10th Bangladesh batsman to score 50 or more in an innings in his debut Test.
Misbah-ul-Haq is 83 short of 2000 runs in Tests.

Quotes

"We (Pakistan) have to be professional and keep this out of our minds and concentrate on what we are doing."
Misbah-ul-Haq will not be bothering too much about Bangladesh's problems.

"Our target will be to finish off well so that we can go into our next international commitment with the memory that yes, we did well in the last game."
Mushfiqur Rahim hopes for a feeling that has eluded him and his team for a good part of this year

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Ashraful Dropped From Second Test

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur

Mohammad Isam

December 15, 2011

Mohammad Ashraful has been dropped from the Bangladesh squad for the second Test against Pakistan, which begins on December 17. The decision follows Ashraful's poor showing in the Chittagong Test, where he lasted fourteen balls in two innings.

Shafiul Islam, meanwhile, returns to the national setup, after being ignored for the first Test. He had missed out on the West Indies Tests in October-November, because of a foot injury.

There was confusion surrounding Bangladesh's squad for the second Test, with regards to the status of Ashraful. He had checked into the team hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday and was among the fourteen players who practiced at the Shere Bangla Stadium on Thursday morning. Also, coach Stuart Law had said Ashraful was, to his knowledge, part of the squad.

However, the selection panel's list, which was yet to be approved by BCB president AHM Mustafa Kamal as is mandatory, did not include Ashraful's name. Eventually, Kamal approved the squad on returning to Dhaka after the ACC meeting in Singapore late on Thursday evening, but the delay raised questions of professionalism.

The amount of time the coaching staff spent working on Ashraful during the training session, and Law's statements, served to add to the confusion. "As far as I know, he [Ashraful] is in the squad," Law said. "That's why he's here at practice. We haven't been told anything different. Maybe it is speculation, that sort of thing goes on in this part of the world."

Later on Thursday, the BCB's cricket operations committee asked Ashraful to leave the hotel while he was signing up with a new club for the Dhaka Premier League on the last day of the inter-club transfers. Shafiul Islam arrived at the hotel in the evening from Bogra, his hometown. The coaching staff wasn't informed of the switch and got to know of it only after it was reported on television channels and news websites.

Bangladesh Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), Mahmudullah (vice-capt), Tamim Iqbal, Nazimuddin, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Elias Sunny, Shahadat Hossain, Sohrawardi Shuvo, Robiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Shafiul Islam.

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Law wants More Four-Day Games For Bangladesh

Pakistan in Bangladesh 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 15, 2011

Bangladesh coach Stuart Law has said the team has to get the experience of playing more four-day games if their Test record has to improve. He suggested it would help to play such games against non-Test playing teams during the off season.

His views echo that of the captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who blamed the run of defeats on the lack of infrastructure in the country's first-class set-up. In the first Test against Pakistan at Chittagong, Bangladesh made 135 and 275 and went on to lose by an innings and 184 runs in less than four days.

"Four-day cricket is where you produce your Test players from. The more you play, the easier it gets," Law said. "Bangladesh haven't played a lot of Tests in the years they've been involved. Some players have been around for 5-6 years but haven't played a lot of Tests.

"If you play a lot of ODIs but not Test cricket, something's got to give. Hopefully the cricket board and players can come up with some program so that they can get enough four-dayers in before Test matches. The other option is to play longer forms of game against the associate nations, especially in the downtime when Bangladesh are not playing cricket."

Bangladesh's batting has let them down this year. In eight Test innings they have gone past 300 just once and none of their batsmen have managed a century. Mushfiqur said this stemmed from the inability of batsmen to get big scores in first-class cricket. No player has scored more than two centuries in this year's National Cricket League, which is currently in its second phase.

Law acknowledged that it would take a lot for his team to get over the loss ahead of the second Test in Mirpur starting on Saturday.

"It is a difficult thing to come out of. Having been a player in a similar situation where you don't know where your next run is coming from, it can engulf you," Law said. "The easiest thing to do is, as I've been telling the players, don't lose sight of what makes you successful. We have to be up there mentally when the game starts, to want to do the hard yards. It has been a sign for million years that the longer we bat, the more runs we score."

On the bowling front, Law said there was plenty to be learnt by observing Pakistan's varied attack.

"Although Pakistan are playing very good cricket, there's nothing in their bowling attack we should not want to face. They have always had class seamers who can swing the new ball and get the old ball reversing. Saeed Ajmal is one of the best to watch, has lots of tricks up his sleeve. He puts batsmen under pressure. He's more like (Muttiah) Muralitharan in the sense that he's more of a wrist spinner than an offspinner."

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Confusion over Ashraful's selection For Mirpur Test

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Mirpur

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 15, 2011

There is some confusion surrounding Bangladesh's squad for the second Test against Pakistan, which begins on Saturday, over the status of Mohammad Ashraful. The coach Stuart Law has said Ashraful was part of the squad - and he was seen training with his team-mates - but the selection panel's list, which is yet to be approved by the BCB president as is mandatory, does not contain his name.

The confusion arose after the selection panel were reported to have picked a squad for the second Test excluding Ashraful and the injured Rubel Hossain, and giving Shafiul Islam a recall. The list is expected to be approved by BCB president Mustafa Kamal, who is due back in the country late on Thursday night. Ashraful, however, checked into the team hotel yesterday along with the other members of the squad and went through the pre-match procedures this morning and it seemed the team management were working on the assumption that he would be picked.

"As far as I know, he [Ashraful] is in the squad. That's why he's here in practice. We haven't been told anything different," Law said. "Maybe it is speculation and that sort of thing goes on in this part of the world.

"All I have done is prepared like a Test match. I have told everyone to be prepared for all outcomes come match day. That's the same in any team. We have turned up here today as a squad from the first Test. We have all practiced like we are playing a Test match. So that's not an issue."

Akram Khan, the chief selector, told reporters that the panel had finalised the team and handed it over to the BCB. "We submitted the team to the board today because we have only two days in hand for practice before the second Test match."

Ashraful had made a comeback to the squad for the first Test against Pakistan, after being dropped for Tests against West Indies and the ODIs against Pakistan. He managed only 1 and 0 in Chittagong.

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Pakistan Ease To Innings Victory in 1st Test

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st Test, Chittagong, 4th day

The Report by Nitin Sundar

December 12, 2011

Pakistan 594 for 5 decl. (Younis 200*, Hafeez 143, Shafiq 104) beat Bangladesh 135 (Rehman 3-9, Ajmal 3-40) and 275 (Nazimuddin 78, Shakib 51, Rehman 4-88) by an innings and 184 runs

Bangladesh crashed to their 35th innings defeat in 73 Tests, after Pakistan's spinners ran circles through the middle and lower order on the fourth morning in Chittagong. The result seemed inevitable right from the first day, when the hosts put on a batting horror show to fold for 135 in their first innings. They made a better fist of things in the second dig, though the pitch had turned much more difficult after baking under the sun for three days. Their late defiance, however, only served to extend the game into its 11th session, before Pakistan completed their fifth win in nine Tests this year.

That the hosts even survived until lunch was down to the opener Nazimuddin, whose approach contrasted sharply with the impatience of his top-order colleagues. He made 78 off 189 balls, taking his match tally on debut to 109, giving the hosts something to salvage from another shambolic Test match. Nazimuddin's vigil was particularly impressive given the sheer quality of spinners he was facing. With the rough patches on the leg-stump area opening up finally, Saeed Ajmal was lethal from round the stumps, while Abdur Rehman produced drift and sharp turn with an attacking line. Together, they made short work of a line-up that lacked the technique to survive against a spin attack far superior to their own

The signs were ominous for Bangladesh from the moment Umar Gul got a ball to scoot low, just away from the stumps, in his opening over. Nazimiuddin nearly played on to Rehman, left balls that were uncomfortably close to off stump, and almost soft-batted a fizzing Ajmal offbreak back onto the wickets. He carried on, though, unfazed by the close misses, and was prepared to look ugly if he had to, unlike his trigger-happy team-mates.

Shakib Al Hasan began with an expansive cover drive off Umar Gul for four, but fell after reaching 50, outdone by his perilous tendency to play back to the spinners. That gave Rehman his 50th Test wicket in 11 Tests, joint-fastest for a Pakistan spinner, along with Ajmal. Rehman should have had Mushfiqur Rahim in the same over, but umpire Billy Doctrove adjudged the lbw appeal in the batsman's favour.

Nazimuddin reached his 50 with a nurdle through midwicket, and summoned the confidence to hoist Ajmal over mid-on for four. Adnan Akmal helped him along with two drops behind the stumps, and Nazimuddin celebrated by spooning Rehman inside-out, and planting Ajmal over midwicket for sixes. Two more pleasing fours followed, and Misbah-ul-Haq - a defensive captain at the best of times - promptly pushed men back to long-off, square leg and midwicket. That didn't stop Nazimuddin from another loft down the ground, and he grimaced in self-admonishment as soon as he played the shot, realising he had holed out to long-off.

Mushfiqur hung on gamely, reading the spin variations from the crease, but Mahmudullah was owned by an Ajmal doosra that spun across to hit off stump. Pakistan had five more overs before lunch to bring an early close to the action, but Mushfiqur and Elias Sunny survived till the break. The final rites were administered soon after, with Rehman trapping Mushfiqur in front for 49, and Aizaz Cheema getting the ninth wicket with the second new ball. Rubel Hossain was unavailable to bat after injuring himself on the third day, but he wasn't the only Bangladeshi who failed to turn up.

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Test Form can only Improve with First-Class Cricket - Mushfiqur

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st Test, Chittagong, 4th day

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 12, 2011

Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh captain, has said the national team's Test performances will not improve unless first-class cricket in the country progresses. Bangladesh's loss to Pakistan in Chittagong was their 10th in 11 Tests since the start of 2010, and Mushfiqur, who is three Tests into his tenure as captain, said the trend would not be reversed until players started to do better in domestic cricket.

"We must improve our first-class infrastructure; without that we will continue with this sort of performance in Test cricket," Mushfiqur said. "We may have impressive performances in one or two matches but overall the situation will be the same as it is today."

Bangladesh's batting has let them down this year. In eight Test innings they have gone past 300 just once and none of their batsmen have managed a century. Mushfiqur said this stemmed from the inability of batsmen to get big scores in first-class cricket. No player has scored more than two centuries in this year's National Cricket League, which is currently in its second phase.

"We must make a habit of scoring hundreds or double-hundreds by playing in the first-class competition," Mushfiqur said. "Another thing we need to do is make sure all the national players are available to play in the first-class competition to ensure a high level of competitiveness. We can improve our skills only by playing in the first-class competition."

One of the criticisms of Bangladesh's batsmen has been that they are being too aggressive, and after their collapse for 135 on the first day in Chittagong, coach Stuart Law had said they had "given up their wickets easily." Mushfiqur, though, said he did not have a problem with batsmen playing aggressively, though they needed to apply themselves more.

"I think our batsmen tried to play their natural game and there was nothing wrong with that. Actually we have to show more patience, determination and the right application to prolong the innings."

Debutant Nazimuddin was Bangladesh's best batsman in Chittagong, scoring 31 and 78 in each innings. His performance and the persistence of the bowlers, who were hampered by poor fielding while conceding 594, were the positives Mushfiqur said Bangladesh could take from the game.

"Nazimuddin played well in the match. We had expectations of him and he fulfilled them. We can take inspiration from him. Our bowling was also not bad, though we dropped some catches, which helped some Pakistan batsmen to play big innings.

"We were actually out of the match when we lost five wickets in the first session of the first day. But still Nasir [Hossain] batted well in the first innings while Nazimuddin and Shakib [Al Hasan] played good knocks in the second innings." .

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Winning Momentum Has Given Confidence To Pakistan - Misbah-ul-Haq

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st Test, Chittagong, 4th day

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 12, 2011

Pakistan expectedly wrapped up the first Test against Bangladesh on the fourth day, giving them their fifth win in their previous nine Tests - this one by an innings-and-184-runs. That run of form, encompassing the last 12 months, includes series wins over New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

One of the factors in Pakistan's consistent run has been the captaincy of Misbah-ul-Haq, who took over in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal in 2010. Misbah, however, chose to give his team the credit after their latest triumph.

"I think if the team is doing well then credit goes to everyone, which also includes the captain," Misbah said. "But the main thing is players are important in the team. If they are not performing, the captain can't do anything. For which I think the credit goes to every player. They are putting in their efforts and fulfilling their responsibilities. That's why the team is winning."

Misbah put his team's determination to win matches down to their reaction to the spot-fixing scandal which could have easily thrown them into disarray. "I think the way we are performing, you can say what happened with Pakistan cricket, the boys have come out really strong and all wanted to do well. It's the reason behind that. The day controversies hit the team, I think the boys had it set in their mind that they will prove that they are a good cricket team and good players."

While Pakistan's recent string of results have naturally infused the side with confidence, Misbah said the spark came from their series against South Africa last year, where Pakistan fought to draw both Tests. "The confidence comes from the performances. When you are performing as a team game by game and you are performing well, the confidence is building. This is really helping us as a team. The series against South Africa in October last year was a big test for us. We played really strong against them in the two Test matches and at that time South Africa was one of the best Test sides.

"After that the team got the confidence as every player performed in that series which kept on building in every match after that."

Misbah felt that Bangladesh were under huge pressure in Chittagong as they collapsed for 135 in the first innings. Though they made a better fist of it in the second to reach 275, it was mostly a struggle. "In the first innings they got out easily and once you get out easily on a flat track I think it's difficult to make the comeback. That helped us. They lacked in confidence. A batsmen is helped if he is consistently scoring runs. If you are not scoring runs, it becomes difficult to stand strong as a batsman."

Pakistan's decision to field was vindicated by the result and Misbah said that it was a strategy they had been employing for some time now. "We managed to exploit the wicket with our bowlers in the first two sessions of the first day. For the last two years we have been doing this and so far we have been able to take good advantage of it. Once we have the target in our mind, the bowlers and the batsmen together performed really well. So if we ever find even a little advantage for the bowlers, we choose to bowl first."

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I was Not Aiming For Double-Century - Younis

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st Test, Chittagong, 3rd day

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 11, 2011

Younis Khan, the Pakistan batsman, has said he was not aiming for a double-century on the third day of the Chittagong Test and only started thinking about it when his captain Misbah-ul-Haq and coach Mohsin Khan told him to go for it. Younis started the third day on 96, completed his century with a boundary off the third ball, and then switched gears to reach 200 and give Pakistan a 459-run first-innings leads.

"This morning my focus was on getting four runs to complete my hundred," Younis said. "I was lucky to get them off the third ball. Then suddenly the captain and coach changed the plan and told me to go for the double-century.

"I missed two double-hundreds against India in Pakistan in 2006, once when I scored 199 [in Lahore] and once when I made 194 [in Faisalabad]. But this time I was sure that I will get my double-hundred."

During his innings Younis went past 6000 Test runs, and notched up his 19th Test century and third Test double-century. Younis, 34, said he was not focused on breaking any Pakistan batting records but just wanted to play 100 Tests. "It's my dream to play 100 Test matches. If I am lucky enough to play 100 Test matches maybe I will be close to [some records]."

Younis dedicated his double-hundred to his family and the Pakistan coaching staff and team management. He also reserved special praise for his captain Misbah, who he said was respected by the rest of the team.

"I will give Misbah 100% marks on his captaincy because he is an educated person and he has the respect of the team. Everybody listens to him and if you want to give him advice he takes it with an open heart."

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Bangladesh Slides Towards Big Defeat

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st Test, Chittagong, 3rd day

The Report by Nitin Sundar

December 11, 2011

Bangladesh 134 for 4 (Shakib 41*, Nazimuddin 41*) and 135 trail Pakistan 594 for 5 decl. (Younis 200*, Hafeez 143, Shafiq 104) by 325 runs

Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq killed the last embers of Bangladesh's spirit with a 259-run stand, before Misbah-ul-Haq gave them temporary respite with a declaration. The relief proved to be a mirage, though, as Pakistan's spinners skimmed through Bangladesh's top order to leave them facing a heavy defeat with two days to play.

Younis finished with an unbeaten 200, and along with first-time centurion Shafiq, administered Bangladesh a lesson in crease-occupation. The hosts, however, did not seem to have taken away too many learnings; their batsmen betrayed poor skills and a lack of patience for the second time in three days. On a wearing wicket, Pakistan's multi-dimensional spin attack made a breach apiece, while Aizaz Cheema also contributed to leave Bangladesh 134 for 4 at stumps.

Tamim Iqbal's approach in the six-over phase leading up to tea suggested he wasn't going to change his style following the first-innings implosion. He escaped twice, missing a kamikaze on-the-up drive off Cheema, and a heave against the spin of Mohammad Hafeez, his bugbear. Hafeez dismissed him for the third time on the tour soon after tea, hitting the stumps with a harmless offbreak that Tamim inexplicably chose to leave. Shahriar was clumsy while pulling and loose while driving on his way to 28, before missing a sweep against Saeed Ajmal.

With the pitch taking prodigious turn after staying benign through the day, Abdur Rehman probed away with four men around the bat in addition to the extra-chirpy Adnan Akmal. Mohammad Ashraful duly exited for a duck, clueless against a Rehman delivery that drifted towards leg before spinning across to take a thin edge on the way to the slips. Nasir Hossain had batted out time while facing a tall target in the second ODI, but opted for flash ahead of graft today in a situation where the draw was both acceptable and viable. Faced with a Cheema bouncer, he went for a pull instead of the leave, and Mohammad Hafeez held a smart catch in the outfield to make it 80 for 4. Shakib Al Hasan counterattacked with a series of shots for the gallery, and Nazimuddin showed promise for the second innings in a row, but his effort once again only served to highlight the recklessness of his colleagues.

Earlier, Bangladesh's seamers produced pace and bounce to show the first signs of spirit in their ranks, but the fielders were too sloppy to make it count. Three balls into the day, Younis got to his 19th Test ton, glancing Shahadat Hossain through fine-leg for four. Shahadat promptly offered him a couple of freebies - one too straight, and the other too wide - and Younis looted boundaries to suggest the overnight break in play hadn't diminished his touch or appetite. Shahadat hit his straps quickly, though, and summoned an extra yard of pace to test Shafiq's technical flaws.

In his second over, Shahadat whipped down a bumper that reared up at Shafiq, who fended it uncomfortably off the glove. Shahadat persevered, and eventually elicited a top-edged hook with another menacing bouncer. The ball swirled towards Rubel Hossain at fine leg, who made an apology of an effort running in. Shahadat applauded Rubel's attempt, and it wasn't clear if he was being sarcastic or genuine. Shafiq capitalised and marched past fifty.

Rubel also worked up impressive speeds - at times touching 145kph - from his round the wicket angle. He set up a leg trap for the bouncer, and had Younis pulling without control on two occasions. The first top-edge spiralled towards Shahadat at fine-leg, who returned the favour to Rubel by backing out of a tough chance. The second one looped straight to deep midwicket, and Bangladesh surprised themselves by holding on, but it was a no-ball.

Thereafter, Bangladesh looked incapable of taking a wicket unless it was gifted. Shafiq creamed Rubel square, and drilled him straight for fours, forcing Mushfiqur Rahim to fall back on spin. Younis prospered with his trademark mix of shuffle-and-dabs and lean-and-sweeps to go past 150. With lunch around the corner, he swivelled back to smash Ashraful for six, and Shafiq shredded Shakib through the off side for boundaries.

Bangladesh took the third new ball as soon as it was available, but it only hastened Pakistan's progress. Shafiq was once again hurried by a bouncer - a weakness he will need to address before facing quality opposition - before reaching his century with a tuck off Elias Sunny. Shafiq perished soon after, testing the spread-out fields with an inside-out loft that ended in long-off's hands. Younis was unstoppable, though, punching Rubel Hossain for four, before slog-heaving Sunny over midwicket for a six. He reached his double-ton with a nudge through square leg. His second hundred had come off only 132 balls, and Misbah-ul-Haq seemed pleased as he applauded from the dressing-room, even as gestured for Younis and Adnan Akmal to come in. The declaration gave his bowlers 39 overs to make a mess of Bangladesh's reply.

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Rubel Hossain Injures His Right Shoulder

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st Test, Chittagong, 3rd day

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 11, 2011

Rubel Hossain, the Bangladesh fast bowler, has suffered a right shoulder injury while fielding on the third day of the Chittagong Test against Pakistan and will miss the rest of the game. The team management has sent him to Dhaka for an MRI. Rubel will not be available to bat in the second innings in which Bangladesh are tottering at 134 for 3. Bangladesh need another 325 runs to make Pakistan bat again.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board's physician Debashish Chowdhury said the injury did not appear to be serious. "It looks like the injury is not serious but we have to wait for the MRI report to know exactly what has happened to his shoulder," Chowdhury said. "We can only talk about his treatment after the report.

"Initially there was no swelling but after two hours there was some swelling in his right [bowling] shoulder which is not a good sign. The shoulder is not dislocated but what the bowler himself claimed was that it was dislocated first and then relocated. In that case it will take time but again we have to wait for the MRI report."

Rubel had to leave the field on the third day of the Test after he fell while trying to dive to save a boundary.

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Hafeez and Younis shine as Pakistan Takes Lead

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st Test, Chittagong, 2nd day

The Report by Nitin Sundar

December 10, 2011

Pakistan 415 for 4 (Hafeez 143, Younis 96*, Shafiq 40*) lead Bangladesh 135 (Rehman 3-9) by 280 runs

Mohammad Hafeez strolled unimpeded to a century, and Younis Khan got to within touching distance of one, as Pakistan subjected Bangladesh to a comprehensive lesson in crease-occupation. After the chaotic batting from Bangladesh on the first day, the action swung to the other extreme on the second morning as Pakistan blunted the minimal threat posed by their opponents, before gradually moving out of their sight.

Despite it being the weekend, the home fans chose to stay away as their side took a beating for the second day running. Bangladesh had neither the skill nor the discipline to dent Pakistan's now customary Test-match resolve. The seamers, Shahadat Hossain and Rubel Hossain, bowled spells of ornamental value, but the spinners - Elias Sunny and Mahmudullah, in particular - tested the rougher patches on the pitch with flight and rip. However, they couldn't accomplish much against batsmen well-versed in the art of milking spin.

While Shahadat bowled pedestrian lines, Mahmudullah resumed his overnight battle with Taufeeq Umar from the other end, and persevered with loop and turn. Having edged several times while leaning out on the first evening, Taufeeq chose to play Mahmudullah off the back foot as much as possible. More than once, he left alone balls alarmingly close to offstump, and looked at his most vulnerable when reaching out. Hafeez stayed put to defend a series of length balls from Shahadat's end, and Bangladesh strung together five successive maidens to create an illusion of control.

Hafeez resumed progress with a languid cover-driven boundary off Shahadat, but Taufeeq needed 23 balls to score his first run for the day. He even summoned the spirit to advance down the track and loft Mahmudullah for a straight four, but the bowler deservedly had him leg-before with a quick, flat offbreak.

Hafeez carried on as if he hadn't noticed his partner's struggles, steering Rubel past gully before threading Mahmudullah through the covers to reach his fourth Test ton. His celebration was almost mechanical as he pulled off his helmet and kneeled down to perform the sajda, before breaking into a smile.

Azhar Ali was uncharacteristically edgy to start off. He repeatedly charged out of the crease to the spinners, and on one such instance barely cleared mid-on. He was also beaten comprehensively by a huge spinner from Sunny, before being pegged on the back foot by an arm-ball that took a thin inside edge onto the pad. Shahadat finally got him to bottom edge a wide ball to the wicketkeeper to leave Pakistan 220 for 2.

Younis walked in with his accumulation-mode turned on, and rolled into gear with a smooth cover drive off Sunny. Hafeez thumped a Rubel Hossain bouncer in the 80th over so effortlessly that Mushfiqur Rahim took the second new ball as soon as it was available. Younis should have been run out immediately, but Shahriar Nafees missed the stumps and the two fielders backing up comically let the ball escape for four overthrows. Shahadat kept bowling inexplicably short, without the pace or trajectory to back it up. Hafeez took him for fours on either side of the stumps before pulling uppishly to Sunny, who couldn't even get his hands to a tumbling chance at midwicket.

With the bowlers and the fielders looking helpless, Bangladesh needed a poor umpiring call to get a wicket. Hafeez inside-edged a Sunny arm-ball onto his pad, but Billy Doctrove adjudged him lbw. Misbah-ul-Haq pulled his first ball straight at Nafees who had no chance of holding on at short leg, before edging a drive off Shahadat straight past Nafees at slip, who, like Sunny earlier, didn't manage to even touch it.

Misbah couldn't cash in, though, and missed a loopy Sunny full toss to be caught plumb in front. The loss of his favoured partner in defence seemed to ignite a spark of aggression in Younis, and he dispatched Shakib through point, cover and fine-leg to reach his fifty. He then skated out of the crease to dump him for a straight six, in the process chugging past 6000 Test runs, as Bangladeshi shoulders began to slump. It was the moment Pakistan were waiting for, after staying cautious for much of the day.

Sensing the slackening intensity, Asad Shafiq kicked off by heaving Sunny over extra cover, and launching Shakib straight for sixes. Suddenly, Bangladesh were forced to do away with the extra catchers they had employed through the day. That didn't stop the run-flow, though, as both batsmen swept and steered efficiently to pick up boundaries. With stumps approaching, Younis made a concerted dash towards his ton, slamming Mohammad Ashraful straight and slapping Shakib to midwicket for boundaries to reach 96. Shafiq couldn't give him the strike in the day's final over, though, but Younis didn't seem too perturbed.

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Everything Goes Right in Practice - Mahmudullah

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st Test, Chittagong, 2nd day

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 10, 2011

Mahmudullah, the Bangladesh vice-captain, has said Bangladesh may have a mental block when it comes to translating the things they do in practice to performances in matches. Bangladesh were bowled out for 135 by Pakistan on the first day of the first Test, in Chittagong, and then saw Pakistan move to 415 for 4 by the end of the second day. Mahmudullah said it was the batting that had been the most disappointing aspect of the performance so far.

"Everything goes right in practice but we couldn't apply it in the match," he said. "We can't understand during the match what we should do and what we shouldn't. So our shot selection went wrong. Hopefully we can do well in the second innings and bounce back in the match."

In seven Test innings this year, Bangladesh have gone past 300 just once. Mahmudullah said it was just a matter of one good innings, or one big score from an individual, that could turn around the batting form. "In the last two or three series we have not batted well. But in the previous one-and-a-half years we batted well consistently. So it's a matter of one innings. If we bat well, the confidence will come back.

"We are waiting for a good performance from someone. In the first innings Nasir [Hossain] played a good innings while Nazimuddin survived well. If someone plays a big innings we can get our confidence back through him."

Mahmudullah acknowledged that the poor turnout at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium was related to the team's poor performances of late. "As we are not playing well, spectators did not turn up. When we start playing good cricket, they will turn up again."

On the second day of the Test, Bangladesh were made to toil by Mohammad Hafeez, who scored 143, and Younis Khan, who stayed unbeaten on 96. Mahmudullah praised Pakistan's batting but also said there was no turn in the pitch and the Bangladesh batsmen could take heart from that.

"They were very compact and disciplined. The way they left the ball and the way they played shots, we can learn many things from them. As there is no turn and bite in the pitch and nothing for the seamers either, our plan was to be patient. We prevented them from batting fluently; our bowlers bowled well today."

Two out of Hafeez's four Test centuries have come against Bangladesh. He said he was happy to score against any opposition though Bangladesh were a stronger opposition in one-dayers than Tests.

"You want to perform against every opponent because every time you come out you always try to give your 100%. Bangladesh have done a great job in the last eight or nine years and have learned many things. I think they will keep working hard at it. At one-day level they perform much better than at Test level."

Hafeez was denied a bigger score by a poor umpiring decision: he was adjudged lbw though there was a thick inside edge. But Hafeez said it was a part of the game. "Sometimes you get a really bad decision, so I have no complaints. All you can do is work hard."

In a surprising move, Hafeez had been given the new ball on the first day, after Pakistan chose to field. He said he was comfortable with the new ball though did sometimes find it funny how much success he has had as a bowler in the past year. "I am always confident with the new ball and I bowl with it in the nets. I've been doing it for the last year and the confidence the management has shown in me that I can do this job at the highest level has been encouraging.

"Sometimes I laugh about my success with the ball because I am basically a batsman. My bowling just comes naturally because as a batsman I can understand the thinking of other batsmen."

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