Najmul Hossain Shanto believes a bit of friendly rivalry among the bowlers made the difference as Bangladesh wrapped up a 78-run win in Mirpur and a 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam signed off with six wickets in the final innings, giving him nine for the match, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and the quicks chipped in whenever pressure threatened to build.
“It is this healthy competition that won us the Test series against Pakistan,” Shanto said. “It is good to have this kind of healthy competition. Whoever is given the responsibility of bowling, they have stepped up. It is also desirable to see a bowler cutting out the runs or taking wickets when the team is under pressure. I think it is good that everyone understands how important the moments are. I hope that we don’t get too excited and prepare well before the next Test match. We have to correct the mistakes but let this healthy competition thrive.”
Facts first: the spinners claimed 22 of Pakistan’s 40 wickets across the two matches; Taijul and Miraz bagged a five-for each. The seamers, led by Nahid Rana’s 11 wickets – including 5 for 40 in Dhaka – accounted for the remaining 18. Rana bowled lively spells with the new ball and returned late on to nip out lower-order resistance, something that has been missing for Bangladesh in recent seasons.
Morning jitters
Bangladesh began the fifth day needing just three wickets, yet any thoughts of a quick finish disappeared as Mohammad Rizwan and Sajid Khan played freely, found the rope four times in two overs and survived a couple of nervy moments at slip. Shanto admitted he felt the tension.
“It is hard to explain the emotion of that one hour today. To be very honest, we were under pressure as they were batting well. I must however say that our team has improved in controlling their emotions or not panicking in these situations. We haven’t reached the level of calmness of top teams, but I am definitely happy with our progress, as a captain.”
The 25-year-old skipper leaned on experience when field placements needed tweaking. “I think I am very lucky that Mushfiq bhai is in the field. I also had the likes of Litton, Miraz and Mominul bhai but in such moments, I like to discuss a little with the others. I think almost everyone came up to me with their advice. All of our players think about the team. It is often difficult to take decisions in these crunch moments so if you get such help from those around you, it is definitely a bonus.”
Turning point on day one
The Test, and arguably the series, swung when Bangladesh slipped to 116 for six shortly after lunch on the opening day. Litton Das was on two. From there he produced a composed hundred, shepherding the tail and adding 88 with Taijul for the eighth wicket. A first-innings 287 felt a fraction light yet proved decisive once the bowlers exploited a wearing pitch.
“I think Litton’s innings was a textbook example of playing for the team. It was an outstanding effort. The way Litton batted with responsibility in that situation, you realise just how big teams operate. Everyone in the dressing room had that belief that Litton could give us those important runs. Everyone knew that Taijul bhai would provide support to Litton.”
Litton followed up with 53 in the second dig, again pacing his scoring to leave Pakistan chasing a tricky 312. Taijul then stepped up with the ball, mixing sharp turn with subtle changes of pace. Miraz’s control at the other end forced batters to take risks, and Rana’s reverse swing accounted for Rizwan just after lunch on the final day, breaking Pakistan’s last genuine stand.
Room to improve
Shanto was quick to temper celebrations. Fielding lapses – two sitters and a missed stumping across the match – offered Pakistan windows they never quite climbed through. The captain wants tighter catching and more discipline with the new ball on flat surfaces abroad.
Even so, back-to-back home series wins give Bangladesh momentum heading into a three-Test assignment in New Zealand later this year. Conditions will be harsher for spin, so the battle among the quicks for two, maybe three, spots is likely to intensify. That is precisely the sort of “healthy competition” Shanto hopes will continue to pull the side forward.
A series win built on collective effort rather than individual brilliance feels like progress – not a finished product, but a step in the right direction.
