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May 09, 2026
6:39 AM
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The first day of the Test match between the Bangladesh national cricket team and the Pakistan national cricket team turned slowly, then suddenly, in Bangladesh’s favour.
At the toss, Pakistan decided to bowl first after looking at the fresh surface in Dhaka. There was grass on the pitch, some cloud cover around, and honestly, the decision did not look wrong in the first hour. Bangladesh were under pressure quickly after losing early wickets and Pakistan’s fast bowlers looked sharp with the new ball.
But Test cricket changes quietly. One long partnership, one tiring session, and suddenly the entire match starts feeling different. Home
By the end of Day 1, Bangladesh had reached 301/4 and walked back to the dressing room looking far happier than Pakistan.
Pakistan Started Well But Could Not Keep Control
For the opening spell, Pakistan were disciplined.
Shaheen Afridi created awkward angles from around the wicket while Mohammad Abbas kept attacking that difficult off-stump line again and again. Bangladesh’s openers never looked fully settled and both wickets came before the hosts could really build momentum.
At that stage, the pitch still had enough movement to trouble batters. Some balls were staying low while others bounced a little extra. Pakistan looked energetic and in control.
But they could not break through once the middle order settled in.
That became the biggest problem for them throughout the day.
Shanto Changed the Flow of the Match
Najmul Hossain Shanto played one of those innings that may not look explosive on paper, but inside the match it carried huge value.
He began carefully. There was no rush in his batting. He left deliveries well, defended close to the body and waited patiently for loose balls instead of trying risky shots early on.
That patience slowly frustrated Pakistan.
Once Shanto became comfortable at the crease, the runs started coming naturally. The cover drives looked clean, the pulls were controlled, and suddenly fielders started spreading out. Pakistan’s bowlers were no longer dictating terms.
The most impressive thing about his knock was his balance between caution and scoring intent. He never allowed the pressure to build for too long.
After reaching a well-earned century, he fell almost immediately, trapped lbw by Abbas. It was an important breakthrough, but by then Bangladesh had already moved into a strong position.
Mominul Played the Perfect Supporting Role
While Shanto handled the scoring rhythm, Mominul Haque quietly built the innings from the other end.
Sometimes in Test cricket, a batter’s value is not just boundaries or strike rate. It is about time spent at the crease, tiring bowlers, killing momentum and making the opposition work harder every session. Mominul did exactly that.
His innings of 91 came from pure concentration.
He kept rotating strike smartly and rarely looked uncomfortable against spin or pace. Pakistan tried changing angles, mixing lengths and bringing spin into the attack earlier than expected, but Mominul adjusted well throughout the day.
There were a few nervous moments, especially against deliveries that jagged back sharply, yet he never completely lost control of the innings.
The disappointing part for him will be missing out on a hundred after batting for so long. Noman Ali finally trapped him lbw with a ball that stayed slightly low, ending what had been an excellent knock.
Still, his partnership with Shanto completely changed the direction of the match.
Pakistan Missed Chances During Key Moments
Pakistan were not terrible with the ball, but they lacked consistency for long periods.
There were good overs followed by ordinary ones. A tight spell would suddenly be ruined by a loose ball down the leg side or an unnecessary no-ball. That allowed Bangladesh to keep rebuilding pressure-free partnerships.
Abbas probably looked the most reliable bowler across the day because he maintained discipline almost every spell. Shaheen produced a few dangerous deliveries too, especially with the newer ball.
But overall, Bangladesh managed the sessions better.
Pakistan’s spinners also struggled to create sustained pressure once the pitch became easier to bat on in the afternoon.
And that is where Bangladesh slowly took complete control.
Mushfiqur and Litton Closed the Day Strongly
After Mominul’s wicket, Pakistan sensed an opportunity late in the evening session with the second new ball available.
But Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das handled the final overs calmly.
Neither batter looked interested in forcing shots before stumps. They respected the movement, left deliveries outside off stump carefully and made sure Bangladesh ended the day without another collapse.
That final unbeaten stand could become very important moving forward in the Test.
If Bangladesh continue batting deep into Day 2 and push beyond 450, Pakistan may spend most of this match trying to recover.
Bangladesh Hold the Early Advantage
Right now, Bangladesh look comfortably ahead after the opening day in Dhaka. Online ID
The pitch appears much better for batting compared to the first session, and Pakistan’s bowlers already looked tired near stumps. Bangladesh still have experienced batters at the crease along with enough batting depth remaining.
Pakistan now need quick wickets on the second morning.
Otherwise this strong Bangladesh start could become the foundation for a very big first-innings total.
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