SYLHET: Pakistan head into the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet under pressure, wounded by criticism at home and staring at another damaging series defeat, but buoyed by the return of former captain Babar Azam for the must-win contest starting on Saturday.
Bangladesh’s 104-run victory in the opening Test in Dhaka handed them a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and further underlined the shifting balance between the two sides in red-ball cricket. The hosts now stand on the brink of another landmark achievement after already beating Pakistan 2-0 on home soil two years ago.
Pakistan head coach Sarfraz Ahmed admitted the defeat had hurt but insisted his side remained focused on producing a response in Sylhet.
“Definitely, we as a team are disappointed after the first Test match, but the past is the past,” Sarfraz said on Friday. “We are hopeful that we will bounce back as a team.”
The visitors have at least been boosted by the return of Babar, who missed the opening Test because of a knee injury. Pakistan badly lacked authority and composure with the bat in Dhaka, collapsing in key moments despite entering the final stages of the game with hopes of salvaging a draw.
Babar’s inclusion is expected to trigger a reshuffle in the batting order, with skipper Shan Masood likely to move up to open alongside debutant Azan Awais. But while Babar’s presence offers reassurance, Pakistan’s problems appear deeper than the absence of one player.
The tourists have struggled for consistency in Test cricket over the past two years, with their senior players coming under increasing scrutiny after another meek surrender in Dhaka. Sarfraz, however, brushed aside the criticism directed at the side on social media.
“It is not new for us,” the former Pakistan captain said. “If we are not playing good cricket, the criticism is there. We are not worrying about social media things. Our focus is to play the next match.”
Pakistan’s coach also identified discipline as the area demanding urgent improvement after his side lost control of the first Test across two damaging sessions.
