Shadman marks his return with a half-century as Bangladesh dominate morning session
After a two-year absence, Shadman Islam returned to Test cricket with a composed half-century, helping Bangladesh claim the morning session on the third day of the Rawalpindi Test.
Shadman reached his fifty just before the lunch break, scoring 53 off 123 deliveries. Mominul remains unbeaten on 45 from 66 balls. Bangladesh closed the extended session on 134 for 2 after 48 overs, still trailing by 314 runs in their first innings.
Beginning the day at 27 without loss, Bangladesh suffered their first setback in the fifth over of the day, 17th of the innings, when Zakir Hasan was dismissed. Attempting to play a delivery from Naseem Shah outside the off-stump, Zakir edged the ball to the wicketkeeper Rizwan, who completed a remarkable catch near the first slip.
Captain Najmul Hossain, despite surviving for about ten overs, couldn’t significantly add to the score. He was bowled by Khurram Shehzad for 16 from 42 balls after failing to negotiate an inswinging delivery. However, Shadman and Mominul then steadied the ship, denying Pakistan any further success.
Mominul rotated the strike efficiently and capitalised on scoring opportunities, while Shadman, though more cautious, held firm at the crease. It took him 19 deliveries to move from 48 to his fifty, during which he struck six boundaries.
