Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper Litton Das made a scathing remark to Mohammad Rizwan during the first Bangladesh-Pakistan Test, saying his “bad reputation” in his country would prevent him from playing a big shot during his innings.
Bangladesh won the Mirpur Test by 104 runs, registering their third successive win over Pakistan in the longest format. Batting first, Bangladesh posted 413 in the first innings, courtesy of a hundred by skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto. The hosts took a slender lead after bowling out Pakistan for 386, eventually setting them a target of 268 runs to take a lead.
Pakistan were in a spot of bother early on, as Imam-ul-Haq departed in the first over. Debutants Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal put on 54 runs for the second wicket, with the latter making his second 60-plus score in the game. Awais’ dismissal in the 13th over, however, led to a mini-collapse, as Pakistan fell from 57-1 to 121-5 in the 33rd over when Rizwan walked out.
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With the target needing to be chased in around 70 overs, Pakistan’s run rate dropped when Saud Shakeel and Rizwan were at the crease. In the first 4.4 overs of the partnership, they amassed 18 runs, with Rizwan on 7 off 13. At that point, a few big hits could still have turned the match Pakistan’s favour, but the stump mic caught wicketkeeper Litton remarking that Rizwan would rather look to draw the game and protect his “reputation”.
“His reputation is bad in his country. If he tries to hit and gets out, he won't be able to enter his country. His reputation is really bad.”
Rizwan eventually fell for a 46-ball 15 after leaving a good-length ball off Nahid Rana that came back in to rattle the bails on the top of the middle stump. Pakistan lost their last five wickets for nine runs as Rana picked up a five-for in the win.
Rizwan’s poor run of form continues: Not a part of Pakistan’s T20I squad, he averages 34.70 in his last ten Test innings and in ODIs. His strike rate has also been a bone of contention in the recent past, with Rizwan earning criticism for his showing in his maiden Big Bash League season, where he struck at 102.70 in 10 innings, and at 116.60 in the recent Pakistan Super League.
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