Pakistan's decision to play four fast bowlers on a sluggish Rawalpindi track was exposed through the course of Day 3 and 4 of the opening Test match against Bangladesh as the visitors gained control after the hosts declared on scoring 448 for six. Riding on Mushfiqur Rahim's heroics, Bangladesh took a 117-run lead in the first innings, as they were bundled for 565 runs before the final hour in Saturday.
During Bangladesh's valiant show in the first innings, Pakistan captain Shan Masood was seen left furious as some of the missed chances from the home team, and failing to make crucial breakthroughs as five Bangladesh batters scored at least a half-century with Mushfiqur Rahim converting it into his sixth 150-plus score.
In a video that went viral on social media on Saturday, Masood was seen fuming in the Pakistan dressing room on Day 3 of the first Test match and furiously argued with newly-appointed head coach Jason Gillespie. Masood was seen doing most of the talking, while Gillespie quietly listened to the captain.
Bangladesh were eventually dismissed for 565 runs in the final session on Day 4 of the first Test match after a brilliant knock of 191 by veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim. The 37-year-old's marathon knock lasted eight hours 42 minutes, after he edged fast bowler Mohammad Ali to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. He stitched a record partnership of 196 runs for the seventh wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who scored his respective fifty.
Mehidy and Mushfiqur's efforts on Saturday helped Bangladesh amass their highest total against Pakistan, beating the 555 for 6 they scored at Khulna in 2015. The seventh-wicket stand with Mehidy bettered the previous record of 186 set by Warren Lees and Richard Hadlee for New Zealand in Karachi in 1976 - a record against Pakistan in all Test cricket.
Pakistan reduced the first innings gap to 94 runs at the close of Day 4 after Masood and Abdullah Shafique stayed unbeaten in 9 and 12, respectively. Pakistan will resume Day 5 on 23 for one.
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood was seen getting furious in the dressing room and having an animated discussion with the side's head coach Jason Gillespie, who is also a legendary Australian pacer, on Day 3 of the first Rawalpindi Test against Bangladesh. A video of the incident is going viral on social media. While it is evident in the surfaced clip that Masood is angry over something, the fans on internet surprisingly linked it to Babar Azam's dropped catch, an incident that took a day later. On the fourth ball of the 142nd over of the Bangladesh innings, Mushfiqur Rahim edged an Agha Salman delivery but Babar at leg slip dropped the easy chance.
While the catch from Babar was dropped on the fourth day of the match, the viral video of Masood is from the third day.
Many accounts on social media are claiming that the outburst of Shan Masood infront of their head coach Jason Gillespie was for Babar Azam who dropped an easy catch of well-set Mushfiqur Rahim in the 142nd over off the bowling of Agha Salman.
Pakistan players were clearly frustrated after that dropped catch as Rahim was batting on 150, but as claimed by people on social media there is no evidence that the anger of Shan Masood in the dressing room was directed to Babar Azam.
Babar Azam is garnering lot of criticism after falling for a duck in the first innings of the Test match on a flat deck. So, he would be itching to answer his critics with a big knock on the final day of the Test match and salvage a draw for Pakistan on what is turning out to be a disappointing game for the home side.
Pakistan are on the backfoot in the first Test match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi after they conceded lead of 117 with Bangladesh posting 565 in their first innings. The home team has lost Saim Ayub too in their second innings, and are surely facing the heat which was evident by Shan Masood's angry reaction in the dressing room.
However, this is not the only reason for the Pakistani captain's fury. The first Test has seen a couple of controversial decisions that have left fans questioning the use of technology in the modern game. In the first innings, Shan Masood was given out caught behind off Shoriful Islam despite the ball clearly missing his bat and hitting his pad. Masood, who had walked off in anger after the decision was upheld by the third umpire, was seen venting his frustration in the dressing room. His reaction has sparked debate among fans and commentators alike, with many questioning the use of technology and its ability to differentiate between bat and pad.
The incident has highlighted the growing reliance on technology in cricket and the challenges it poses in making accurate decisions. While technology is undoubtedly a powerful tool, it is not infallible. It is imperative that umpires and third umpires exercise caution and utilize technology responsibly, ensuring that it is used to enhance the game rather than to detract from it.
It is important to remember that cricket is a game of human error. Umpires and players are bound to make mistakes, and it is through these mistakes that the game becomes a captivating spectacle. Technology can play a role in ensuring fair play and minimizing human error, but it should not be used to supersede the human element entirely. The beauty of cricket lies in its ability to evoke emotions and to generate debate. The recent incidents involving the use of technology have only served to underscore this.
It is to be seen if Shan Masood will be able to control his emotions and lead Pakistan to a win in the first Test, but one thing is for sure, his anger is a reflection of the growing frustration among cricket fans over the use of technology. It is time for cricket authorities to re-evaluate the role of technology in the game and to ensure that it is used in a way that enhances the game rather than detracting from it.
