Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali made a bold prediction ahead of Pakistan’s two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Speaking on his YouTube channel on August 13, Basit said that only rain can save Bangladesh from defeat as they are no match for Pakistan.
Fast forward less than two weeks later, and Bangladesh humbled Pakistan in Rawalpindi. After scoring 448/6d on a flat surface, Pakistan then toiled for over 167 overs as the visitors piled up 565 with Mushfiqur Rahim hitting 191. Their decision to not play a specialist spinner was in the spotlight, and that spotlight shone even brighter as Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4/21) and Shakib Al Hasan (3/44) blew Pakistan away on a pitch that offered spin on the final day.
Basit Ali’s comments about Bangladesh don’t age well after first Test defeat
“Only rain can save Bangladesh,” Basit Ali said. “Otherwise, there is no comparison. Pakistan will have a big advantage in the home conditions.”
Such comments came as a surprise even before the Test. Pakistan have not won a home Test since August 2021, with their winless run now extending to nine matches. In this period, they have drawn four and lost five.
Fans on social media were quick to pounce after Bangladesh sealed a historic ten-wicket win.
The second Test begins at Rawalpindi on Friday, August 30. How the pitch plays will be of huge interest after Pakistan got their bowling combination terribly wrong in the first Test, opting to pick four fast bowlers on the docile surface.
Naseem Shah was particularly frustrated. Speaking after the fourth day’s play, Shah said “It’s been too many series where we get these types of pitches. We need to think about how to extract home advantage, because you have to find a way to produce results from these games, otherwise you’re not utilising home advantage.”
In terms of the World Test Championship 2023-25 scenarios, Pakistan must win the second Test to have any hope of reaching the final. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will feel confident of leaving Pakistan with a series win.
