Pakistan staged a strong recovery in the Dhaka Test after a middle-order collapse, as debutant Azan Awais scored a brilliant century and helped stabilize the innings on the third day against Bangladesh. Rain later interrupted play with Pakistan reaching 349 for six, ending a day of shifting momentum and competitive cricket. Moreover, the innings reflected resilience after early setbacks in the morning session.
Azan Awais became the standout performer by converting his overnight 84 into a composed 103-run knock, marking a memorable Test debut for the young batter. He played patiently over 165 deliveries, hitting 12 boundaries before being dismissed by Taskin Ahmed after reaching his milestone. Consequently, he became the 14th Pakistani player to score a century on Test debut.
Read more : Abbas leads Pakistan fightback in Dhaka Test
Pakistan suffered a brief collapse earlier in the day after losing four quick wickets following their overnight score of 179 for one. Captain Shan Masood fell cheaply for nine runs, while Saud Shakeel failed to score, adding pressure on the batting lineup. However, opener Imam-ul-Haq contributed 45 and Abdullah Shafique added 60 to build a solid foundation.
The recovery was led by Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, who stitched together a crucial 119-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Rizwan scored a fluent 59 off 79 balls, including eight boundaries, before becoming the sixth wicket to fall. Furthermore, Salman remained unbeaten on 55, displaying calm batting with six fours and a six before rain halted play.
Read more : Bangladesh made a confident start in Dhaka Test against Pakistan
Earlier, Bangladesh posted 413 in their first innings, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scoring 101, Mominul Haque making 91, and Mushfiqur Rahim contributing 71 runs. Pakistan’s bowling attack responded strongly, as Mohammad Abbas claimed five wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi took three, and Noman Ali and Hasan Ali added one wicket each. Therefore, the match remained evenly balanced heading into the next phase.
For Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up three wickets for 94 runs, while Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam also contributed with key breakthroughs during Pakistan’s innings. As a result, both teams maintained competitive control throughout the match, setting up an intriguing contest for the remaining days. The rain interruption added further uncertainty to the final outcome.