 If history is anything to go by, another lopsided game is on the cards when hosts
Bangladesh face Pakistan in the second test match starting Saturday in
Dhaka. Pakistan have now gone five consecutive test series unbeaten, with two
drawn and two won. They look favorites to add a third series win as Bangladesh
stand on the brink of another heavy defeat.
Click for Live Score Card of Bangladesh Vs Pakistan
The crushing victory in the first match was Pakistan's fifth by an innings
margin in only eight tests against Bangladesh. Misbah ul Haq has knit the team
together in a safety-first approach that seems to be working for them so far.
A double-century for Younis Khan, maiden ton by Aad Shafiq and Mohammad
Hafeez's continuing maturity as a top class player all contributed to the victory.
The batting line up seemed in a better stead than it has in recent times.
Bowling is something that Pakistan need not worry about. Abdur Rehman
has almost gone unnoticed though he reached 50 wickets mark in the last game.
Saeed Ajmal also continues to compound Bangladesh's misery. The team on the
whole looks set and sees no reason to change its starting line-up.
The hosts' troubles never seem to cease as they hit new lows very often. Collapsing
for 135 on the first day is ample proof of problems with batsmen's temperament
and mindset in staying at the crease for longer periods.
A team that hugely relies on Tamim Iqbal has been severely hampered
by Iqbal's weakness against Hafeez who has accounted for him four times in five
innings now. Nazimuddin played well on his debut, but it is early to say if
he avoids being one of the many high-flying debutants who faded away later.
Their bowling strength, spin, has been outdone by their counterparts' while
the fielding too has fallen short of international standards.
It remains to be seen how the side handles the pressure of the Mohammad Ashraful controversy, who was sent back home after training with the side.
He has not been in the best of forms but the lack of professional behaviour
was indeed appalling.
With sunny weather predicted for all the days of the match, Bangladesh
face an uphill task to gain something out of the game.
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