Sylhet: After day two of the final Test against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, star Pakistan batsman Babar Azam reflected on his team’s batting performance, missed opportunities and the importance of building partnerships in Test cricket.
Speaking at a press conference later in the day, Babar admitted that despite the favorable batting conditions, after promising starts, Pakistan failed to execute properly and maintain momentum.
“The pitch was very good, the ball came to the bat well, but we failed to build a partnership. Salman Ali Agha and I tried to build one; the start was good, but unfortunately we couldn’t carry it forward,” Babar said.
He identified key moments that changed the match, pointing to the loss of quick wickets as the turning point that allowed Bangladesh to take control.
“The turning point of the innings was my wicket and Salman Ali Agha’s wicket. After those two dismissals, the momentum of the game changed completely,” he said.
Babar also discussed his batting approach, acknowledging the fluctuating nature of form in Test cricket and the need for stability through partnerships, stressing his focus on playing natural cricket.
“I tried to play my normal game, but sometimes you score runs and sometimes you don’t. In Test cricket, you need two to three solid partnerships to build a strong total,” Babur said.
The 31-year-old addressed the frequent concerns within the batting unit, demanding more responsibility to avoid a slump after losing early wickets.
“The batting unit has to take responsibility and build partnerships. After one wicket falls, two or three more wickets follow and we struggle to recover. We are discussing it amongst ourselves and with the coaches and removing any issues,” he said.
Babbar concluded his remarks by dismissing concerns of stress, insisting that the team should focus on continuous improvement and preparation through structured training and consistent competitive exposure.
“We continue to play cricket and have no mental barriers. Our mindset is to do well in every series, match and World Cup. Everyone wants to stay positive, minimize mistakes, adapt to different situations and improve. A long three-month camp for white-ball and red-ball cricket will be beneficial for us,” he concluded.
On the field, hosts Bangladesh extended their lead against Pakistan by taking firm control in the second and final Test. Starting the second innings, the hosts scored 110-3 in 26.4 overs to take a 156-run lead at the end of the second day.
Captain Najmul Hossain Santo remained unbeaten on 13, while Mominul Haq was dismissed off the last ball.
Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 232 in 57.4 overs as Bangladesh took a first innings lead of 46 runs with decent bowling.
Babar scored a top score of 68 off 84 balls and was dismissed by Nahid Rana with 10 fours. Sajid Khan scored 38 runs off 28 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes.
Despite slumping to 116-6 after lunch, Bangladesh were bowled out for 278 in their first innings, rescued by a controlled and commanding effort from Liton Das, whose innings anchored the bottom order and ensured a match total.