Pakistan opted to field first after winning the toss in the Sylhet Test, and immediately justified their decision as Bangladesh endured a difficult opening session. At the close of the first session, Bangladesh reached 101 for 3 in 26 overs, having been under pressure from the very first delivery.
The innings began in disastrous fashion when Mahmudul Hasan Joy was dismissed for a duck off just the second ball of the match. Although an initial LBW appeal was turned down, he was removed soon after, edging a delivery outside off stump to the slip cordon. The early breakthrough set the tone for a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack led by their seamers.
A brief recovery followed as Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque added 44 runs for the second wicket, offering some stability after the early setback. However, Tamim’s innings was cut short when he attempted an ambitious shot over mid-on and was caught for 26 off 34 balls, halting Bangladesh’s momentum once again.
Mominul, too, failed to convert his start into a substantial score. The returning Pakistan pacer Khurram Shahzad produced a decisive moment, delivering an inward-moving ball that breached the gap between bat and pad to shatter the stumps. Mominul departed for 22 from 41 deliveries.
Debutant opener Tanzid Hasan, the 109th Test cricketer for Bangladesh, also experienced a brief and difficult introduction to Test cricket, falling early without scoring. His Test cap was presented by senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim, marking a significant milestone despite the challenging conditions.
A notable interruption occurred when Pakistan’s Hasan Ali suffered a head injury while attempting a diving catch. He left the field on a stretcher for precautionary scans but later returned after receiving medical attention, easing concerns within the Pakistan camp.
At the crease at the end of the session, Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto steadied the innings with an unbroken partnership. The pair added 38 runs, with Mushfiqur unbeaten on 18 and Shanto on 26, offering Bangladesh some resistance after early setbacks.
Pakistan’s bowling effort was spearheaded by Mohammad Abbas, who claimed two wickets with disciplined seam bowling, while Khurram Shahzad added one wicket to his tally, including the crucial dismissal of Mominul.
First Session Summary
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahmudul Hasan Joy | 0 | 2 | Caught |
| Tanzid Hasan | 0 | — | Caught |
| Tamim Iqbal | 26 | 34 | Caught |
| Mominul Haque | 22 | 41 | Bowled |
| Mushfiqur Rahim | 18* | — | Not out |
| Najmul Hossain Shanto | 26* | — | Not out |
Despite the early setbacks, Bangladesh will take some encouragement from the unbroken fifth-wicket stand. Their progress in the coming sessions will depend heavily on whether the set pair can convert their resistance into a more substantial partnership. Pakistan, meanwhile, will look to maintain pressure and capitalise on any further lapses to restrict Bangladesh to a modest first-innings total.