Pakistan’s unlikely final day win against Bangladesh at Dhaka ensured that they finished the tour having done as much as they can to have progressed their World Test Championship final aspirations.
Given that rain washed out the majority of the Test, this was an excellent result for Pakistan, who are now second in the World Test Championship table. For most of the Test, it looked like rain would have the final say. While, 57 overs were bowled in the first day, only 38 balls were bowled the next day, and the third day’s play was completely washed off.
The match came to life on the fourth day, with Pakistan declaring at 300-4 only to finish the day by leaving Bangladesh reeling at 76-7 courtesy of Sajid Khan’s record-breaking effort. With Shakib still at the crease, Bangladesh might’ve breathed easy. However Pakistan came back with full force on the final day, and picked up the remaining 13 wickets (they enforced the follow on) to win the game by an innings and eight runs.
The win means a lot for their WTC final qualification prospects. This was their second series in the current WTC cycle. The first was away to West Indies. Pakistan were favourites to prevail over the home side, but they were denied by a spirited effort in the first Test, meaning that they only picked up half of the points available that series.
Had they walked away with a draw at Dhaka, they would’ve dropped points in the series against their two lowest-ranked opponents in this WTC cycle.
The importance of this result becomes apparent, when one peeks into Pakistan’s future fixtures. They’re due to play three series at home, and one away (in Sri Lanka). The three home series will be against formidable opponents (New Zealand, Australia, and England) but Pakistan will be confident that they – the fifth ranked side in the world – can overcome them in home conditions. They have been good in the sub-continent of late: their fast bowlers have come good, their spinners have impressed of late, and they have some class batters in Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.
India, England, Australia, New Zealand – the sides ranked above Pakistan in the ICC Test team rankings – have some challenging away encounters against each other. Pakistan do not face a side ranked in the top six away from home in this WTC cycle. If they keep up the promise they showed at Dhaka, Pakistan will have a decent chance of featuring in the WTC final in 2023.
