Is Pakistan’s 0-2 series loss to Bangladesh their worst in Test history?

Bangladesh made history by defeating Pakistan in the second Test match, securing their first-ever Test series victory on Pakistani soil.

Bangladesh batters chased down the 185-run target set by Pakistan with relative ease, losing only four wickets in the process.

After tourist’s dominant ten-wicket win in first Test, Tuesday’s result deepened Pakistan's troubling home record, extending their winless streak to ten Test matches (four draws and six losses).

Pakistan's last home Test victory dates back over three years, in February 2021, when they beat South Africa by 95 runs in Rawalpindi.

This ten-match winless run is now Pakistan's second-longest in history, surpassed only by an 11-match streak from February 1969 to March 1975, which included ten draws and a single loss to New Zealand in Lahore.

Bangladesh, however, holds the record for the longest home winless streak in Test cricket, with 27 matches between 2005 and 2014.

But where does the defeat against Bangladesh rank in terms of worst Test series losses for Pakistan at home?

Some of the home defeats that really hurt include:

Zimbabwe stun hosts in Peshawar (1998)

One of the most notable was Zimbabwe's series win in Pakistan in 1998. It was their first-ever overseas Test series victory.

Zimbabwe were touring Pakistan for the second time in their history, having first played there in 1996-97 when they lost the two- match Test series 1-0.

Pakistan's collapse in Peshawar during the first Test of that series is still remembered for the devastating performance by Zimbabwe’s bowlers.

Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell asked the hosts to bat first on a grassy wicket in Peshawar and the trick worked as Pakistan were all out for 296 in the first innings.

The tourists were also in dire straits in their first innings as they slipped to 115/6 before Neil Johnson stepped in and smashed his first Test ton and remained unbeaten on 107 as Zimbabwe were bundled out for 238, trailing by 58.

Pakistan endured a stunning collapse in the second inning with Zimbabwe pacers completely dismantling the batting-order as the hosts were bowled out for 103.

Zimbabwe completed the 162-run chase with the loss of only three wickets, registering their first ever Test match win overseas.

Only two innings were completed in the second Test in Lahore as the match was drawn due to rain. The third Test in Faisalabad was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Alastair Campbell celebrates Zimbabwe's first Test series win overseas.AFP

Sri Lanka’s maiden Test series win in Pakistan (1995)

The experience of Bangladesh's head coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, with conditions in Pakistan has been crucial in leading The Tigers to their first-ever Test series victory in the country on Tuesday. Hathurusinghe was also instrumental in Sri Lanka’s historic Test series win in Pakistan.

He was the top scorer with 291 runs in the 1995 three-match series, which the Island nation won 2-1 after losing the opening match and staging a remarkable comeback in the following two Tests.

Although Sri Lanka went on to win the ODI World Cup in Pakistan the following year, this series was a significant step towards that global triumph.

Chandika Hathurusingha speaks during a press conference. AFP

Pakistan suffer first-ever whitewash at home (2022)

More recently, England, with their newly-adopted Bazball approach, handed Pakistan their first-ever home series whitewash in 2022, winning all three Tests in a dominant display.

This defeat also marked the first time Pakistan lost four consecutive home Tests, starting with a loss to Australia earlier that year.

England's cricket team poses with the trophy after whitewashing Pakistan in a Test series in 2022. AFP