What happened the last time Pakistan played Bangladesh in a home Test?

Pakistan take on Bangladesh in the first Test of their two-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, starting from Wednesday, August 21. The second Test is slated to be played at the same venue from August 30.

The two teams will be keen on putting up a positive showing in this series but Bangladesh will have the added incentive given that they are touring their neighbours for the first time since 2020.

The Tigers also hold the unenviable record of never beating Pakistan in a Test before, with twelve out of the thirteen games that the two have played in the past ending in the latter's favor. The one other game was drawn.

Bangladesh have a big task on their hands when they take on their opponents on Wednesday, with the intention of proving not just to the world but to themselves as well that they can fight and belong at this level with the best in the business.

Pakistan, on the other hand, have not played Test cricket since they returned from a disgraceful 0-3 drubbing at the hands of Australia earlier this year. This does not augment well for their form.

With the impressive record that the hosts hold over Bangladesh in head-to-head statistics, now is as good a time as any to revisit what happened when these two teams last met each other in a Test on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh the last time they played them in a Test at home

The last time that these two teams faced each other in a Test on Pakistani soil was in the 2020 series. Pakistan beat Bangladesh by an innings and 44 runs in the one-off Test in Rawalpindi on that occasion.

Bangladesh batted first in that Test and could only manage 233 in 82.3 overs before being bowled out by a far superior Pakistani bowling attack. Left-arm seamer Shaheen Afridi led the way with 4-53.

Mohammad Mithun was the sole Bangladeshi batter to score a half-century and provided some resistance with a 140-ball 53. However, he received precious little support from the others, with only Najmul Hossain Shanto coming close with 40.

Pakistan responded with a massive 445 and ground the Bangladesh bowlers down with their patience. Centuries from opener Shan Masood (100) and star batter Babar Azam (143) helped them amass these runs with ease.

Half-centuries from Asad Shafiq (65) and Haris Sohail (75) also helped Pakistan even though Abu Jayed and Rubel Hossain toiled hard in the heat for Bangladesh and returned with three wickets each.

The batters of the visiting side completely failed to live up to the occasion in the second innings, getting bowled out for 168 and handing the hosts a gargantuan victory of an innings and 44 runs.

Ace seamer Naseem Shah (4-26) and experienced leg-spinner Yasir Shah (4-56) were the wreckers-in-chief for the Shaheens in the second innings as the visitors did themselves no credit with their poor shot selection and planning.