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Pakistan's Khurram Shahzad Records Best Figures By A Pacer At Home In 21 Years

Pakistan's Khurram Shehzad (X.com)Pakistan's Khurram Shehzad (X.com)

Pakistan's Khurram Shahzad scored the best figures by a Pakistani pace bowler at home in more than two decades of seam bowling during the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. 

His performance on Day 3 was one of the most significant talking points and one of the most important aspects of recent Pakistani cricket history.

Coming back into action after a rain-marred first day, Bangladesh finally bowled Pakistan out for 274 runs on the second day. Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, and Salman Agha scored half-centuries each, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up five wickets in return. At the end of the second day, Bangladesh had started their innings and were ten without loss.

Bangladesh Crumble Under Pressure

Day three began with the Pakistan bowlers hitting their straps, and Khurram Shahzad was excellent in a high-quality spell. He got Zakir Hasan caught at short midwicket off the sixth delivery before getting rid of Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto in quick succession. A good opening spell from Shahzad thus saw Bangladesh go 20-3.

Shahzad later added a fourth wicket in the morning session when he trapped Shakib Al Hasan lbw, which caused Bangladesh to struggle at 26-6. Despite a valiant recovery attempt by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Litton, who shared a 165-run partnership for the seventh wicket, Shahzad returned to break their stand. He first took a fine return catch off Miraz, then accounted for Taskin Ahmed to wrap up his six-for.

At the time of writing, Shahzad had figures of 6-90. His haul is the best by a Pakistani pacer at home since Shoaib Akhtar's 6-50, also against Bangladesh in 2003. 

During the period between 2009 and 2019, when international cricket was largely suspended in Pakistan, only one Pakistani pacer, Tanvir Ahmed, managed a six-wicket haul at a temporary venue in the UAE.

Shahzad's performance comes with more striking Pakistani performances, including Umar Gul, Abrar Ahmed, and Noman Ali, speaking loudly of this rare and remarkable feat in terms of home-soil bowling.