Pakistan vs Bangladesh 2nd Test: DRS Blunders and Litton Das Century

Pakistan’s Strong Start Undermined by Decision-Making Lapses

Pakistan once again found themselves under scrutiny for poor on-field judgement and decision-making during the ongoing second Test against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet. While the visitors began the match strongly with the ball, two major DRS blunders from Shan Masood and his side stole the spotlight and raised serious questions over Pakistan’s game awareness. The term ‘Peak Pakistan’ has often been used to describe the team’s ability to oscillate between brilliance and bewilderment, and Day 1 of this Test provided a perfect illustration of that paradox.

Pakistan Make Ideal Start After Winning Toss

After winning the toss, the Men in Green made the obvious decision to bowl first under favourable conditions. The surface at Sylhet offered plenty of movement for the seamers, and the move paid immediate dividends as Mohammad Abbas struck on just the second ball of the match. Mahmudul Hasan Joy edged a probing delivery behind and departed for a duck, sending an early warning to the Bangladeshi batting lineup.

However, Bangladesh responded positively through Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who played confidently despite the early loss. At the other end, Mominul Haque played cautiously, holding the innings together. The pair added 44 runs for the second wicket before Pakistan struck again. Tanzid, after scoring 26 off 34 balls, attempted a half-hearted pull shot against Abbas but only managed a top edge, resulting in his dismissal. The momentum shifted again when Khurram Shahzad produced a superb nip-backer that shattered Mominul’s stumps. The left-hander was dismissed for 22 off 41 deliveries, leaving Bangladesh struggling despite a few promising starts. At that stage, the Shaheens appeared firmly in control with Bangladesh three wickets down and the middle order exposed.

First DRS Blunder Costs Pakistan Mushfiqur Rahim’s Wicket

Soon after lunch, the Men in Green had a massive opportunity to claim another wicket but failed to capitalise because of poor judgement. The incident occurred in the 28th over when Sajid Khan bowled a short delivery drifting down the leg side. Mushfiqur Rahim attempted to glance the ball fine but missed it—or so it seemed to the naked eye. Mohammad Rizwan collected the ball cleanly behind the stumps and immediately appealed for a caught behind.

Although Sajid Khan looked extremely confident, Rizwan himself appeared uncertain, which likely influenced the captain. As confusion surrounded the appeal, skipper Shan Masood eventually decided against taking the review. Replays later revealed a clear deflection off Mushfiqur Rahim’s gloves. UltraEdge confirmed there was contact, meaning Pakistan had missed a golden opportunity to dismiss the experienced batter. The disappointment was clearly visible on the faces of the Pakistan players as they realised an important wicket had slipped away due to a lack of conviction in their own appeal.

Pakistan Repeat Same Mistake Again

One would have expected Pakistan to become more alert after the first mistake. However, remarkably, a similar incident took place later in the innings, proving that the lessons from the first session had not been fully absorbed. During the 61st over, Khurram Shahzad delivered a short-of-length ball outside the off stump. Litton Das shuffled across attempting a pull shot but failed to connect cleanly.

This time, Mohammad Rizwan looked interested in the appeal, but Khurram Shahzad himself was not entirely convinced. Once again, Shan Masood chose to trust the bowler’s hesitation rather than his keeper’s instinct and did not review the umpire’s decision. Unfortunately for the Pakistan camp, the replay once again showed a spike on UltraEdge as the ball passed the glove. Pakistan had missed yet another clear review opportunity, and the target of their mistake was the man who would go on to punish them the most.

Litton Das Rescues Bangladesh After Collapse

Despite the Men in Green dominating large portions of the innings, Bangladesh found a hero in Litton Das. At one stage, Bangladesh were reeling at 116/6 under relentless pressure from Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad. The match looked set for an early finish, but Litton Das produced a sensational counter-attacking knock that left the Pakistani bowlers frustrated and the fielders searching for answers.

The wicketkeeper-batter smashed a magnificent 126 off just 159 deliveries, dragging Bangladesh from deep trouble to a respectable total. His innings was a masterclass in risk management, punishing the loose balls while respecting the good ones. Eventually, Bangladesh were bowled out for 278 runs in 77 overs on Day 1. While the bowling figures for Abbas and Shahzad remained respectable, the narrative of the day was firmly fixed on the reviews that weren’t taken. Pakistan’s tactical errors allowed a team that was 116/6 to reach nearly 300, a swing that could prove decisive as the Test match progresses.