Muhammad Rizwan of Pakistan (Photo: Sameer Ali/Getty Images) A dramatic final-round collapse in Dhaka saw Pakistan suffer a 104-run defeat against Bangladesh in the opening Test on Tuesday as Nahid Rana’s five-wicket burst turned the match on its head to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.Chasing 268, Pakistan looked in control for long stretches of the final day, especially after Abdullah Fazal’s composed 66 anchored their opposition. At tea, Shan Masood’s side were still in the game with the loss of just three wickets and hopes of a draw very much alive.Earlier, two fifty-plus partnerships kept Pakistan afloat and a crucial sixth wicket stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel added another 31 runs. At that stage, Pakistan were 152 for five, needed 116 more with plenty of batting to spare.During this phase, a controversial stump mic moment involving Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das caught the eye. He was heard making a scathing remark directed at Rizwan: “They are trying to save the Test now. They have no chance of winning. Rizwan’s reputation is really bad in Pakistan. If he goes out and tries to hit a big shot, he won’t even be able to set foot in the ground – his reputation is that bad.”However, Pakistan’s innings fell apart almost immediately after tea. From a relatively stable position, they lost seven wickets in the final over for just 163 and collapsed under relentless pressure. Nahid Rana led the charge with 5 for 40 and claimed four of the last five wickets as Pakistan’s resistance completely crumbled. Earlier in the match, Pakistan came close to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 413 by posting 386, with rain on days 3 and 4 disrupting momentum and reducing playing time. Bangladesh then declared at 240 for 9, setting a target of 268 on what turned out to be a superbly prepared final day. The defeat marked Pakistan’s first ever Test loss in Bangladesh, having previously won seven of their eight matches with one draw. It also extended Bangladesh’s dominance with a third consecutive Test victory over Pakistan since their 2024 series victory. Pakistan have now joined Zimbabwe as the only teams to have lost three straight Tests against Bangladesh, with the second and final Test set for Sylhet on Saturday.
