Pakistan regained control of the second Test against Bangladesh on Sunday, taking six wickets in the opening session after being bowled out for a modest 274 on Day 2. Khurram Shahzad played a pivotal role, reducing the visitors to 75/6 with outstanding figures of 4/15 from his seven overs.
His spell included the entire top three and the prized scalp of Shakib Al Hasan. The young pacer generated remarkable swing with the shiny new red ball, delivering some absolute beauties, none more impressive than the delivery that sent Shadman Islam back to the pavilion.
Khurram struck first with the final ball of the sixth over and returned with renewed confidence to start the eighth. Bowling around the wicket to the left-handed Shadman Islam, Khurram delivered a ball just outside off stump on a length.
Shadman, trying to create space on the leg side, stepped across early. But as he prepared to glance the ball off his legs, it swung sharply, beating his shot and crashing into the leg stump. Shadman was left in disbelief, staring at his shattered stumps, while Khurram celebrated ecstatically.
BREATHING FIRE IN RAWALPINDI 🏟️🔥
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 1, 2024
Incredible spell this from Khurram Shahzad! 🎯🎯#PAKvBAN | #TestOnHai pic.twitter.com/NALHt1y6x3
Khurram’s brilliant spell continued as he uprooted skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s middle stump just three deliveries later, and he capped it off by dismissing Shakib Al Hasan.