BSS, Khulna :
The million dollar question being asked by millions of Tiger fans is whether Bangladesh would be able to continue their winning spree against Pakistan in two-match Test series which begins today (Tuesday) at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna.
Private satellite channel Gazi TV will live telecast the match that kicks off at 10 am.
After a brilliant ODI and T20 success against hapless Pakistan, the Tigers fans quite naturally are expecting that this time the Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh would be a different ball game. Pakistan who suffered a ‘Banglawash’ in ODI and also failed to impress in the only T20 are in a dire strait and now everything depends on the senior players like Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq to lift the sagging moral, which at this moment lies at the bottom.
While Tigers fans believe that Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah Riyad, Rubel Hossain can spring surprise for Pakistan, who so far has not lost any of the 8 Test played between these two countries.
Bangladesh are set to hand Soumya Sarkar a Test debut at No. 7. Imrul Kayes will open with Tamim Iqbal and among the seamers, experienced Shahadat Hossain is expected to be picked ahead of Mohammad Shahid.
The Khulna stadium so far proved a lucky ground for Shakib as in the last Test held in this ground Shakib became the first spinner to score a hundred and take 10 wickets in the same Test.
But, the question is that whether it would be an easy task for Bangladesh to keep their winning streak too in Test cricket as Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq already backed to strengthen the Pakistan side.
Among the current players, Younis Khan and Mohammad Hafeez (418 in five matches) have the most runs in the Bangladesh-Pakistan contest while Saeed Ajmal has taken the most wickets (9 in two matches).
An 8-0 streak, stretching back 14 years, for Pakistan over Bangladesh in Test cricket is now under legitimate threat after the hosts won the ODI series 3-0 and the lone T20 in Mirpur.
However, with the change to whites comes the addition of captain Misbah-ul-Haq (who too was in impressive form last year in UAE test matches) and the veteran Younis Khan to a batting line-up that will also have the in-form Azhar Ali at No. 3. The onus will be on Misbah to change the mood within the team. His exit from the ODI side has coincided with the immediate losses for Pakistan, so a lot will be expected of him. Younis had a forgettable World Cup campaign, but it is not quite so easy to forget his five Test centuries in 2014.
Pakistan has a few other players whose experience worked last year but lately have run into poor form. Mohammad Hafeez, who has made 34 runs in four innings on tour, will be important at the top. Asad Shafiq, who has been limited to the nets and the bench so far, and Sarfraz Ahmed, who was “rested” in an ODI, are likely to shore up the middle-order batting at Nos. 6 and 7. Pacers and spinners in Pak line-up are capable of putting the rival batters in trouble.
Squads:
Bangladesh (probable): Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain & wicket keeper), Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar Taijul Islam, Jubair Hossain, Rubel Hossain and Shahadat Hossain/ Mohammad Shahid.
Pakistan (probable): Sami Aslam, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Asad Shafiq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal and Zulfiqar Babar.
