Tigers seal historic back-to-back Pakistan whitewash

Bangladesh completed a historic series whitewash over Pakistan for the second consecutive time, joining Australia as the only team to achieve the feat in back-to-back series, after Taijul Islam claimed six wickets to seal a 78-run victory on the final day of the second and final Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Taijul, who claimed his 18th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finished with six for 120 as Pakistan were bowled out for 358 in their second innings, falling 78 runs short of their 437-run target.

Khurram Shahzad became the final wicket, caught by debutant Tanzid Hasan Tamim at wide long on attempting a six off the 98th over.

The result means Bangladesh have now won four consecutive Test matches against Pakistan — the most they have ever won in a row against any single opponent in their Test history.

Pakistan began the final day on 316 for seven, needing 121 runs with three wickets remaining, and Mohammad Rizwan and Sajid Khan briefly threatened to pull off the impossible with a rapid 50-run eighth-wicket partnership off just 62 balls.

Rizwan, who had battled defiantly throughout, went on to score 94 before Shoriful Islam removed him in his first spell of the morning.

Taijul had earlier broken the stand by having Sajid caught in the slips with a beautiful delivery before accounting for the remaining tail to wrap up the victory.

The match had been perfectly poised heading into the final day after a gripping day four in which Taijul had claimed four wickets to leave Pakistan in desperate trouble.

Babar Azam, returning from injury, had counter-attacked bravely for 47 before Litton Kumar Das pouched a stunning catch behind the stumps off Taijul.

Captain Shan Masood fought hard for 71 before also falling to the left-arm spinner, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy taking a sharp catch at short leg.

A magnificent 134-run sixth-wicket partnership between Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, who made 71, had kept Pakistan’s hopes alive deep into day four before Taijul ended the resistance with a well-disguised arm ball.

The foundation for Bangladesh’s victory had been laid in the first two days.

Litton rescued Bangladesh from a desperate 116 for six with a magnificent 126 in the first innings, before Bangladesh dismissed Pakistan for 232 on day two.

A second innings of 390, built around Mushfiqur Rahim’s record-breaking 137 — which made him Bangladesh’s outright leading Test centurion and the oldest centurion in World Test Championship history at 39 years and nine days — set up the historic finish.

Bangladesh, who won the first Test in Mirpur by 104 runs, have now whitewashed Pakistan in back-to-back series — having also won 2-0 on Pakistani soil in 2024.

Only Australia have previously achieved back-to-back series whitewashes over Pakistan.