A strong Pakistani comeback into Dhaka Test

SITUATION AT STUMPS - DAY 4

Bangladesh 76 for 7 (Sajid 6-35) 

Pakistan 300-4 (Babar 76, Azhar 56, Taijul 2-73)

trail by 224 runs 

I do not want myself to be seen anything like Athar Ali Khan, but today's performance of Pakistan team needs appreciation, because today's performance both with bat and ball made sure that Pakistan has slight chance of winning the second test while still a 55% chances of Bangladesh saving the match, which is also mentioned on Cricinfo but now time is the constraint as four sessions remain before Pakistan would be packing their bags for Pakistan, to play against Windies at Karachi.

Mystery Bowler in Sajid Khan

Newbie in Sajid Khan made sure that Bangladesh
would be fighting to avoid following on

Pakistan got busy as soon as play commenced at 10:50am. They first declaring on 300 for four, with half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Fawad Alam. Then, despite being hamstrung by the umpires' diktat that play wouldn't continue if they operate with fast bowlers, Pakistan made inroads with spin.

On Tuesday, play was called off at 4.30pm, an hour before scheduled close. Conditions continued to remain murky all day. Yet, it was better than on the three previous days where heavy rain allowed just 63.2 overs to be bowled in the Test.

Sajid Khan's maiden six-wicket haul left Bangladesh in danger of being made to follow-on with one day of the Dhaka Test to go. It remains to be seen if the weather will halt Pakistan's push for full WTC points, though.

Debutant Mahmudul Hasan Joy tried to charge off spinner Sajid, only managing to edge to slip. Then, Hasan Ali made his presence felt at point, first with a simple catch to dismiss Shadman Islam before running out Mominul Haque with a direct hit.

Mushfiqur Rahim was the next to go, one ball after surviving a close lbw call, as he tried to swing Sajid across the line with Fawad taking the catch at short midwicket. Then, Liton Das, sent ahead of Shakib Al Hasan, tried to attack Sajid but only hit one back to the bowler as Bangladesh slipped to 46 for 5.

Sajid then completed his five-for when he trapped Najmul Hossain Shanto for 30. Shanto couldn't capitalise on his reprieves, first being dropped on 13 and later when he was caught behind off a Nauman Ali no-ball.

Shakib tried to bristle his way for runs, but Bangladesh kept losing wickets. Mehidy Hasan Miraz became Sajid's sixth victim. Shakib and Taijul Islam then survived 5.2 overs before play was called off.

Pakistan had earlier declared their first innings on 300 immediately after Fawad reached his second Test half-century. Rizwan made an unbeaten 53 off 94 balls, with the pair's unbroken fifth-wicket stand worth 103.

Rizwan endured slices of luck; he was dropped on 30 apart from surviving two lbw calls from the on-field umpires, both reversed through DRS.

Bangladesh had started well with pacers Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed bowling well in tandem, with the wickets of Azhar Ali and Babar Azam respectively. It was Khaled's first Test wicket, having bowled 69.4 overs over three Tests since his debut in November 2018.

When it comes to the Ashes

Tomorrow at 5 am Pakistan time (+5 GMT) and likewise 12 am Greenwich Meridian Time, England would be locking horns against their rivals Australia in Australia, hence this is gonna be something to worth watching, if there were India-Pakistan games, only than I won't had taken that much of the interest, but whatever the circumstances, the longest cricket format is likely to be watchable either in Australia and/or England, just because of different factors, 

1. the Crowd
2. Ambiance at ground
3. Production and broadcast quality and standard
4. On-Ground Theming
   

On-Ground theming

This is something many of my fellow Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan friends would be thinking that یہ لڑکا کیا اول فول بک رہا ہے but Australian, British and Proteas ground advertisement does complement their theming, unlike Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Lankan grounds, where use of theming colours on on-ground advertisement does look obnoxious because just imagine you're watching a game in either of the South Asian countries, instead of watching a complementary colour schema as yellow, orange, black etc are always seen, including India who're now incorporated with electronic on-ground advertisement, but still they way colour combinations are used during British, Australian, New Zealand and Proteas games, which is pleasing to the eyes.

One of the most anticipated series was the one between Australia and India in Australia where heavy usage of electronic advertisement was implemented. Along with the sporting excellence on display during the last two games between these two sides, technological brilliance is also witnessed by the sponsors.

In the first two one day international games, virtual advertisements have been used in Australia. The main sponsors of the series were not painted or laid down on the ground. The technology was used by the broadcast team to virtual embed these logos. In the past, sponsors used to get visibility when their big logos were painted in patches across the ground. However, technological advancement has made sure that there is no need to paint or lay down the carpets on the ground.

Dream11, Hero, Sensodyne, Ebco, IIFL, Amazon, Volkswagen were some of the brands that had virtual logos embedded during the one-day games between Australia and India. They were found on either sides of the playing pitch.

Virtual 3D logos are not being implemented for the first time in cricket grounds. In the past, virtual 3D logos have also been seen during India’s games in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Considering the exposure on the television is not affected during the use of virtual 3D logos, brands are unlikely to be against using this technology. In the stadium, LED boards on the boundaries have also given another avenue to sponsors to explore without making any physical changes to the field.

However, the physical presence of logos is essential for the crowds in the stadiums. As of now, most of the games are played behind closed doors, so it does not make a big difference. Fans have been let in during the ODI series between India and Australia. It will be interesting to see whether they continue to use this approach when fans are completely back in the stadium.

Share