Pakistan Hold Overall Edge despite Bangladesh’s Historic Breakthrough in Test Rivalry in 2024.
By: Shakeel Ur Rehman
The first cricket test match of two matches’ series will be start today at Mirpur Bangladesh. The Test rivalry between Pakistan national cricket team and Bangladesh national cricket team has witnessed Pakistan’s long dominance, remarkable batting performances and historic moments since the two nations first met in Test cricket in 2001.Pakistan remained unbeaten against Bangladesh for more than two decades before Bangladesh stunned the cricket world with a historic series whitewash in Rawalpindi during 2024.According to overall statistics, Pakistan and Bangladesh have played 15 Test matches so far, with Pakistan winning 12 matches, Bangladesh winning two and one match ending in a draw.
Pakistan dominated the early years of the rivalry through legendary performers including Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Akhtar, while Bangladesh gradually improved with stars such as Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Pakistan’s highest team total against Bangladesh stands at 628 runs at Khulna on 28th april 2015, while Bangladesh’s best total is 565 runs recorded during the historic Rawalpindi Test on 21st august 2024. Pakistan’s lowest total in the rivalry is 146 all out at Rawalpindi on 21st august 2024, whereas Bangladesh were once bowled out for only 87 runs at Mirpur on 4th December 2021.
Among batting records, Mohammad Hafeez leads Pakistan’s scoring charts against Bangladesh with 650 runs with an average of 59.09 in 7 matches., followed closely by Younis Khan with 638 runsat an average of 79.75 in 7 matches. For Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim scored 566 runs with an averages of 40.42 in 8 matches to become his country’s leading run scorer against Pakistan. Habibul Bashar scored 554 in 6 matches was the second best runs getter.
Pakistan’s highest individual score in the rivalry belongs to Azhar Ali, who scored 226 runs at Mirpur on 6th may 2015, while Mohammad Hafeez made 224 at Khulna on 28th april 2015 and Mohammad Yousuf remained unbeaten on 204 at Chattogram on 16th January 2002. For Bangladesh, Tamim Iqbal played a magnificent innings of 206 runs at Khulna on 28th april 2015 , while Mushfiqur Rahim scored 191 during Bangladesh’s famous Rawalpindi victory on 21st august 2024.
In bowling, former Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria remains the leading wicket-taker in Pakistan-Bangladesh Tests with 34 wickets. Umar Gul claimed 22 wickets, while fast bowling legend Waqar Younis took 18 wickets with an exceptional average.
For Bangladesh, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is the leading wicket-taker against Pakistan with 22 wickets, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a decisive role in Bangladesh’s historic 2024 series triumph.Pakistan’s best bowling figures in the rivalry came from Abdur Rehman, who took 8 wickets for 42 runs, while Danish Kaneria recorded figures of 7 for 77. Bangladesh’s best bowling performance belongs to Taijul Islam with figures of 7 for 116.The rivalry entered a new era in 2024 when Bangladesh defeated Pakistan in both Rawalpindi Tests to register their first-ever Test series victory against Pakistan. The achievement was celebrated as one of the greatest moments in Bangladesh cricket history and signaled the rise of Bangladesh as a serious force in Test cricket.Although Pakistan still maintain a commanding overall record, Bangladesh’s recent success has transformed the rivalry into a far more competitive contest, promising exciting battles in future Test series between the two Asian nations.Pakistan remained unbeaten against Bangladesh in Test cricket for more than two decades before Bangladesh stunned the cricket world with a historic series whitewash in 2024 at Rawalpindi.Bangladesh created history in 2024 by defeating Pakistan in both Rawalpindi Tests to register their first-ever Test series win against Pakistan. The victory marked a new chapter in Bangladesh cricket and ended Pakistan’s long-standing dominance in the rivalry.The Pakistan-Bangladesh Test rivalry now promises more competitive cricket as Bangladesh continue to grow into a stronger force in the longest format of the game.
