Pakistan lost the match, their first Test defeat against Bangladesh, by 10 wickets.
“If there is one team that can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, it’s Pakistan. And it has become the team’s reputation,” said former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja on his YoutTube channel ‘Ramiz Speaks’.
Bangladesh, led by veteran Mushfiqur Rahim’s 191-run knock, piled up 565 runs in response to Pakistan’s first-innings total of 448 for 6 to take a sizable lead. The home team’s batting line-up then had to negotiate a few overs on day four, which they did safely, and bat through day five to draw the match.
But they failed miserably, with spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4 for 21) and Shakib Al Hasan (3 for 44) putting the Pakistan batting in disarray.
“Ye pehli dafa nahi hua ke on fifth day of a Test match, Pakistan titar bitar ho gayi, parkhache ud gaye (it’s not the first time that the Pakistan team fell apart and was in tatters on the fifth day of a Test match),” Ramiz said. “Sometimes batting flops, sometimes bowlers perform poorly at crucial junctures.”
The 1992 World Cup winner went on cite an example form the 2018 Test against New Zealand in the UAE in similar conditions (as Rawalpindi), where Pakistan had to score 175 runs to win on the fourth day but were bowled out for 171 and lost by four runs despite taking a lead of around 90 runs in the first innings.
“Ajeeb-o-garib story ban jati hai jaise hi pressure padta hai iss team me (the script takes a baffling turn whenever this team is put under pressure). There is some serious problem. Their belief system switches off whenever there is some pressure, especially the bowlers,” he said.
He said the batting order is “not technically equipped”
“When your top three are struggling, the middle order is so-so, only (Mohammad) Rizwan has to come and score, you have a long tail that doesn’t know how to bat, then you will lose to Bangladesh also,” he lamented.
While Rameez congratulated the Bangladesh team for their maiden Test win over Pakistan, he said the hosts “contributed” to the success of the visitors.
“That’s a huge performance, congratulations to them,” said Ramiz. “But Pakistan contributed to Bangladesh’s victory.”
“Selection kharab, spinners ke bagair aap chale gaye, uske baad fifth day pe seedhi saadhi pitch ke upar batting ghabrahat ka shikaar, lene ke dene pad gaye (poor selections, played without spinners, batsmen panicked and faltered on a simple track on the fifth day, paid dearly),” Ramiz added.
The second Test begins at the same venue (Rawalpindi) on August 30.
