ISLAMABAD: Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq says the third day of the opening Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka could be the turning point of the match, insisting the visitors must bat throughout the day to wrest complete control from the hosts.
Speaking after the close of the second day’s play, Imam said Pakistan had laid a solid foundation but stressed that the real challenge would begin on day three, where patience and application with the bat could determine the outcome of the Test.
“The third day is going to be immensely important,” Imam said. “Pakistan’s batsmen need to occupy the crease for the entire day and build a substantial first-innings lead. If we succeed in doing that, we will put ourselves in a commanding position and eventually take the Test away from Bangladesh.”
The left-handed opener pointed out that the Dhaka surface had already begun to deteriorate, with visible cracks emerging that are expected to widen further as the match progresses. According to him, that makes the race for the first-innings lead even more crucial.
“The wicket is starting to open up and it will become increasingly difficult for batsmen later in the match. In such conditions, the importance of a healthy first-innings lead multiplies. Whichever side gains that advantage will have a major edge in the Test,” he added.
Imam reserved special praise for experienced pacer Mohammad Abbas, whose disciplined spell with the new ball helped Pakistan make vital breakthroughs early on the second morning. He said Abbas’ inclusion in the playing XI was based on his vast experience and ability to exploit challenging conditions.
“Abbas has enormous experience and exposure at the international level. His extensive first-class and county cricket background has helped him immensely over the years. He bowled with tremendous control and kept the Bangladesh batsmen under pressure, especially during the morning session when Pakistan made important inroads,” Imam remarked.
A strong advocate of rewarding performers from the domestic circuit, Imam also lauded young opener Azan Awais for carrying his prolific first-class form into the Test arena. He said Azan’s composed and patient innings reflected the hard work he had put in over the years in domestic cricket. “Azan has played 33 first-class matches, scoring ten centuries and several fifties. When you give importance to domestic cricket, players naturally develop stronger credentials. His temperament and patience at the crease are the result of the effort he has invested in first-class cricket. The same applies to Abdullah Fazal, who is also batting impressively,” Imam said.
Imam also praised Azan’s courage after the youngster was struck early in his innings by Bangladesh pace sensation Nahid Rana. Despite the blow, Azan showed resilience and recovered strongly to compile a valuable knock under pressure.
“We knew Nahid Rana would come hard at us with pace and aggression. Azan getting hit early could have unsettled him, but he showed great character to recover and continue playing such an excellent innings,” he noted.
Reflecting on his own innings, Imam expressed disappointment at missing out on a bigger score after getting set but said Pakistan’s opening partnership had provided the ideal launchpad for the middle-order.
“It was disappointing not to convert the start into a major innings, but scoring over a hundred for the opening stand gave Pakistan the perfect platform. Now it is up to the remaining batsmen to capitalize and put the game beyond Bangladesh’s reach,” he said. The opener added that batting in Test cricket was largely about surviving the early phase and adjusting to the conditions before taking control. “In these conditions, it is all about settling down at the crease. Once a batsman gets through the initial phase and adapts to the wicket, batting becomes considerably easier,” he explained. Imam further credited Pakistan for staging a remarkable comeback after Bangladesh had appeared well placed earlier in the contest.
“Our bowlers were outstanding with the new ball in the morning and then the batsmen responded brilliantly. It was a strong comeback from the team, but we still have to remain disciplined and solid on the third day to make full use of the hard work done on day two,” he said.
Replying to a question regarding the composition of the batting line-up, Imam pointed out that Pakistan currently have an unusually high number of left-handers in the side.
“For the first time, we have so many left-handers in the team. It is something different and perhaps a new record of sorts for Pakistan cricket,” he said.
