Bangladesh claim their first-ever series win over Pakistan

KARACHI/DHAKA: Bangladesh have made history by claiming their first-ever ODI series win over Pakistan with a seven-wicket win to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Man of the match Tamim Iqbal scored his second consecutive century — a run-a-ball 116 — to make light work of the simple 240-run target that the hosts were set with more than 10 overs to spare.

A top-order batting collapse saw Pakistan reduced to 77-5, which meant that the favourites were always struggling to draw level in the series after a 79-run loss in the first match.

Saad Nasim and Wahab Riaz scored half-centuries to give some semblance of a fighting total to Pakistan, with the host side’s bowlers sharing the wickets among themselves with five players claiming scalps.

Chasing the below-par score, the Bangladeshi batsmen found it easy out there in the middle as they racked up 80 in the first 10 overs for the loss of just one wicket. Mushfiqur Rahim, who followed up his century in the last match with a 70-ball 65, then put on a 118-run stand with Tamim to put the match beyond doubt.

By the time Rahim was dismissed by Rahat Ali, it was too little too late with Bangladesh requiring just 22 more to win.

 

Series loss is followed up by divided opinion

The shock defeat has divided opinion among experts and former players.

Wasim Bari believes that the management needs to stick with the players as such a gelling-in period was expected after the wholesale changes. “You must follow a ‘pick and stick’ policy,” said Bari. “We are in a rebuilding phase so we need to stick with these players and be patient.”

Former skipper Rashid Latif on the other hand believes the management became complacent and made a few changes too many. “It was unfortunate that we made sweeping changes to the World Cup side,” said Latif. “We shouldn’t have taken Bangladesh lightly. Ajmal shouldn’t have been brought back in all formats and Shahid Afridi shouldn’t have been allowed to retire; instead he should be leading the side.”

Latif also blamed the management for the loss. “The management’s track record isn’t great either,” he further said. “Muhammad Sami, Shahzeb Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad should all have been included. The management wants fans to give them time but the fans are impatient.”

Former Test batsman Mohsin Khan also echoed Latif’s sentiments and blamed the management for the loss. “In both matches, I could not see a game plan or a strategy in either the batting or the bowling,” said Mohsin. “The people responsible for the mess need to start delivering.”

 

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