Heroes return: Bangladesh’s historic Test triumph in Pakistan uplifts a nation battling turmoil

Bangladesh's cricket team had to travel to Pakistan earlier than planned to prepare for their Test series due to political instability at home, which had severely disrupted their training. There were also concerns about whether the series would even take place as the situation in Bangladesh deteriorated.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amid widespread protests, and an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took control. Things seemed highly uncertain.

Anti-quota protesters clash with the police in Dhaka on July 18, 2024.AFP

Fast forward a month, and Bangladesh achieved a historic clean sweep against Pakistan, winning the two-Test series away in Rawalpindi. This was a monumental moment for the team, as Bangladesh had never previously won a Test match against Pakistan.

The victory was celebrated amidst a backdrop of political unrest and recovery efforts following devastating floods that had affected millions in Bangladesh.

One of Bangladesh’s greatest wins

Since Bangladesh’s Test cricket journey began in 2000, this win was their first-ever series victory against Pakistan and their third overseas series win, following victories against the West Indies in 2009 and Zimbabwe in 2021.

The nation's new leader, Muhammad Yunus, congratulated the team, calling the win a proud moment for the country.

Bangladesh squad celebrates the series win over Pakistan.AFP

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto described the victory as one of the most celebrated achievements in Bangladesh’s cricketing history.

"I think this has been the best achievement in the history of Bangladesh cricket, and my teammates feel the same," Shanto told the media after the first contingent of the squad returned to Dhaka from Pakistan on Wednesday night.

He had also posted a picture on social media on the night of the victory, showing himself asleep next to the trophy, symbolizing the importance of this victory for Bangladesh.

"Good morning," Shanto captioned his post on his Facebook page.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto posted a picture on Facebook, showing himself asleep next to the trophy.@OfficialNajmulShanto

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who starred with 10 wickets and was named Player of the Series, dedicated his award to those who lost their lives during the recent anti-discrimination protests in Bangladesh.

"This is the first time I have won the Player of the Series Award on an overseas tour. You all know that recently there's been trouble in our country. I want to dedicate this Man of the Series Award to the people who were martyred during the anti-discrimination student protest. There was one rickshaw puller who was injured and later on died. I want to dedicate this award to them," Mehidy said.

Bangladesh batter Mominul Haque believes that winning a series away from home carries a distinct sense of accomplishment compared to their historic Test win over New Zealand away in 2022.

"We won a Test match in New Zealand and that was one kind of feeling but winning a series here is a completely different kind of feeling. Winning a Test and drawing a series, and on the other hand, winning a series, are completely different things," Mominul said.

This triumph also highlighted the resilience of the Bangladesh squad as the team’s success came despite the mental strain of one of their star players, Shakib Al Hasan, being implicated in a murder case related to the police killing of protesters.

Shakib Al Hasan is airborne as he attempts an aggressive shot.AFP

Despite the controversy, Shakib had the full support of his teammates and captain and was the one to score the winning runs in the second Test. Shakib, who lost his political position, left for England to join Surrey County Cricket Club for the County Championship immediately after the series.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also underwent changes, with Nazmul Hasan stepping down after 12 controversial years as head of the board. Faruque Ahmed took over the leadership and is now looking forward to building on this success, with a crucial tour of India on the horizon.

Young guns show their mettle

Zakir Hasan was the more aggressive of the two Bangladesh openers on the fourth day of their second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.AFP

The series win against Pakistan marks a new chapter for Bangladesh cricket, inspiring the next generation of players. Young guns like Nahid Rana, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, and Litton Das demonstrated that Bangladesh could compete at the highest level even without their veteran stars.

Bangladesh's victory also catapulted them to fourth place in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, having started the series in eighth place.

The team is set to leave for India in mid-September for a challenging two-match Test series. Bangladesh has never won a Test against India, but having broken their losing streak against Pakistan, there is hope that they could write another golden chapter in their cricketing history.

Political tensions remain high between India and Bangladesh, as Sheikh Hasina, hosted by New Delhi, faces calls from Bangladeshi students for her return to face charges related to the protester deaths.

If Bangladesh is able to challenge India on the field, it could be a defining moment for both their cricket and national pride.